UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
LOS  ANGELES 


SIX  DECADES  IN  TEXAS 


OK 


MEMOIRS 


OF 


FRANCIS  RICHARD  LUBBOCK 

GOVEKNOK  OF   TEXAS   IN   WAR-TIME,  1861-63 


A5PERSONAL  EXPERIENCE  IN  BUSINESS,  WAR,  AND  POLITICS 


EDITED  BY 


C.  W.  RAINES 


ACTING   STATE   LIBRARIAN,  AND   AUTHOR  OF   A   "BIBLIOGRAPHY   OF   TEXAS, 
"LIFE   OF  SANTA   ANNA,"   ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 

with 
FULL  PAGE  ENGRAVINGS  AND  ETCH[NGS 


AUSTIN 

BEN  C.  JONES  &  CO.   PRINTERS 
1900 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1899,  by 

FRANCIS  RICHARD  LUBBOCK, 
in  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


F 


THIS  VOLUME   IS   DEDICATED   TO 

THE  PEOPLE  OF  TEXAS, 

WHOM   I   LOVE,    AND   WHOSE   LOVE   I    HAVE 

ENDEAVORED   TO   MERIT   BY 

FAITHFUL  SERVICE. 

F.  R.  LUBBOCK. 


4S6371 


//# 


• 


GOVERNOR   FRANCIS   RICHARD   LUBBOCK. 

1862. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


The  man  who  has  protested,  from  the  writing  of  the  first  page 
to  the  last,  that  he  could  not  write  a  book,  has  writ  a  book; 
and  if  there  is  anything  of  profit  or  pleasure  in  it  for  the  people 
of  Texas,  they  must  attribute  it,  first,  to  my  devoted  wife,  and 
second,  to  my  able  editor.  The  former  tolled  me  along  as  a  woman 
knows  how  to  toll  a  man  until  she  got  volumes  of  manuscript 
from  my  memory  dotted  down  by  my  rapid  pen ;  the  latter  culled 
it  to  fill  one  volume  of  medium  size. 

It  does  not  claim  to  be  a  history  of  Texas,  but  a  personal 
memoir  interspersed  with  such  public  events  as  came  into  my 
mind,  and  it  extends  over  the  entire  life  of  the  Republic  and  the 
Confederacy,  coming  down  in  a  more  desultory  way  to  the  pres- 
ent time. 

F.  E.  LUBBOCK. 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE. 


The  manuscript  of  Governor  Lubbock's  memoirs  was  in  the 
spring  of  1897  placed  in  my  charge  to  edit.  Passing  over  a  large 
amount  of  biographical  and  other  interesting  matter,  I  selected 
that  only  which  in  my  judgment  was  most  conducive  to  the  ob- 
ject decided  upon,  viz.,  to  give  special  prominence  to  Governor 
Lubbock's  recollections  of  almost  unwritten  Texas  history.  The 
story  of  the  final  struggle  of  the  Confederacy,  with  matters  sub- 
sequent thereto,  are  but  subsidiary  to  this  idea. 

I  must  not  omit  to  state  that  Mrs.  Lubbock,  feeling  a  just 
pride  in  her  distinguished  husband's  career,  has  been  the  soul  of 
the  enterprise  throughout, — urging  and  encouraging  him  to  com- 
mit to  paper  the  recollections  of  his  eventful  life,  and  giving  me 
invaluable  assistance  up  to  the  final  arrangement  and  preparation 
of  the  work  for  the  press. 

To  eliminate  whatever  errors  that  had  crept  into  the  manu- 
script (prepared  principally  from  memory),  I  have  given  it  my 
careful  supervision;  and  I  am,  therefore,  justly  chargeable  with 
all  inaccuracies  apparent  in  the  text  as  to  public  events. 

As  the  memoirs  touch  upon  the  great  epochs  of  Texas  history, 
the  reader  will  naturally  find  much  of  descriptive  matter  per- 
taining to  war  and  adventure,  with  a  strong  thread  of  politics 
permeating  the  whole.  The  book  makes  no  pretensions  to  graces 
of  style;  it  is  simply  a  plain,  unvarnished  statement  of  facts  and 
fancies  in  sturdy  English,  with  "nothing  extenuated  nor  aught 
set  down  in  malice." 

An  intimate  acquaintance  with  Governor  Lubbock,  acquired 
during  my  long  sojourn  beneath  his  hospitable  roof,  enables  me 
to  refer  with  confidence  to  his  present  most  noteworthy  character- 


EDITOR'S   PREFACE. 


istics, — sprightliness  of  mind  and  body,  habitual  geniality,  can- 
dor, conscientiousness,  and  genuine  kindliness  of  heart. 

The  qualities  that  made  him  strong  in  his  public  career  were 
quickness  of  perception  and  tenacity  of  purpose,  a  rare  combina- 
tion, which  he  made  effective  by  great  energy  in  action. 

If  all  men  knew  Governor  Lubbock  as  well  as  I  do,  they  would 
readily  comprehend  how  self  had  no  place  in  his  ambition,  and 
how  he  always  served  his  country  with  a  singleness  of  purpose 
rarely  surpassed.  The  moral  of  such  a  life  can  not  be  questioned. 

C.  W.  RAINES. 

AUSTIN,  February  22,  1900. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTRAITS  AND  AUTOGRAPHS. 

AUSTIN,  S.  F -38 

HOUSTON,  SAM 74 

SMITH,  HENRY 113 

HOUSTON'S  AUTOGRAPH 142 

GOVERNOR  LUBBOCK  AND  MRS.  ADELE  BARON  LUBBOOK 330 

MY  BROTHERS  AND  SISTERS 25 

MAGRUDER,  GEN.  J.  BANKHEAD,  C.  S.  A. 423 

SMITH,  COMMODORE  LEON,  C.  S.  N 433 

GREEN,  GEN.  TOM 438 

WHARTON,  GEN.  JOHN  A.,  C.  S.  A 538 

DAVIS,  JEFFERSON,  AUTOGRAPH 548 

PARTY  CAPTURED  WITH  MR.  DAVIS 571 

MR.  DAVIS  AND  WINNIE 600 

F.  R.  LUBBOCK 606 

TREASURY  GROUP 619 

IRELAND,  Gov.  JOHN 623 

FOUR  TEXAS  GOVERNORS 626 

F.  R.  LUBBOCK  AND  S.  E.  BLACK  PORTER 630 

FAMILY  GROUP 631 

SAN  JACINTO  GROUP 644 

SCENERY. 

RUINS  OF  THE  ALAMO         30 

CAPITOL  OF  THE  REPUBLIC,  1837-9 49 

RANCH   HOMESTEAD 123 

FIRST  CAPITOL  BUILT  BY  THE  REPUBLIC 143 

SECOND  CAPITOL  BUILT  BY  THE  REPUBLIC 196 

PRESENT  CAPITOL  OF  TEXAS 628 

CAMEL  RIDING 239 

CONFEDERATE  COTTON-CLAD  FLEET 440 

SABINE  PASS  SURRENDER  SCENE 504 

Q0F  FOR  RED  RIVER  CAMPAIGN 535 

CROSSING   THE   MISSISSIPPI 549 

OUR  AUSTIN  RESIDENCE 617 

SECTION  OF  THE  STATE  LIBRARY    .                                                        .  628 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

Early  Life  in  South  Carolina — La  Fayette's  Visit  to  Beaufort — 
Training  under  Irish  Schoolmasters — Removal  to  Savannah  and 
Death  of  My  Father — Return  to  Charleston,  and  Clerk  Life 
There — Nullification  and  Compromise,  1832-33 — Clerking  and 
Cotton  Buying  in  Hamburg 1-19 

CHAPTER  TWO. 

Business  in  New  Orleans — The  Firm  of  Ketch um  &  Lubbock, 
Druggists — Marriage  with  a  Creole  Girl  in  the  Crescent  City — 
Louisiana  Sugar  Planters  and  Government  Protection — My 
Wife  and  I  on  a  Visit  to  My  Mother  in  July,  1835 — Incidents 
of  Our  Return  Home — Business  Reverses  and  Recuperation — 
My  Brother  Tom  a  Volunteer  in  the  Texas  War — Visit  to  Texas 
in  1836 — Tom's  Story  of  Adventure — Favorable  Impression  of 
Texas  and  the  Texans 20-40 

CHAPTER  THREE. 

Removal  to  Texas — Settlement  in  the  New  Town  of  Houston — 
Opening  of  Congress — The  Telegraph  Newspaper — Indian  Pow- 
wows— Various  Incidents — San  Jacinto  Ball  at  the  Capitol — 
Celebration  at  Liberty — Lost  and  Benighted  on  the  Prairie — 
First  Purchase  of  Wild  Land — Assistant  Clerkship  in  the  House 
of  Representatives — Joining  the  Masons — Currency  Meeting — 
Appointed  Comptroller  by  President  Houston — The  Philosoph- 
ical Society 41-70 

CHAPTER  FOUR. 

War  Meeting  in  Houston — General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston — Gen- 
eral Houston  as  the  Author  then  Viewed  Him — Difficulty  with 
Colonel  Ward — Visit  to  Mrs.  Powell's — Presidential  Candi- 
dates— Anecdote  of  Rusk — Preachers  and  Churches — "The  Glor- 
ious Fourth"  at  Galveston  in  1838 — The  Bonnell  Expedition — 
Houston's  Administration;  Its  Work — Lamar  President — My  ^ 
Experience  as  a  Granger l\-^f 

CHAPTER  FIVE. 

Our  French  Naval  Visitors  in  1838 — Festivities  at  Houston  and 
Galveston — The  Selection  of  Austin  as  the  Capital  of  the  Re- 
public —  In  the  Commission  Business  at  Houston  —  General 
Houston  and  Bride  Our  Guests — The  Canvass  of  1840-41  in 


CONTENTS. 


Harris  County  and  My.Election  as  Clerk  of  the  District  Court — 
The  Canvass  for  the  Presidency  of  the  Republic  Between  Bur- 
net  and  Houston  and  the  Election  of  the  Latter — Henry  Smith 
Declining  to  Be  a  Candidate  for  Vice-President,  Ed  Burleson 
Becomes  the  Running  Mate  of  Houston  and  Is  Elected — The 
Santa  Fe  Expedition — My  Brother  Tom  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Ex- 
pedition— Lamar's  Work  in  the  Cause  of  Education — Expulsion 
of  the  Cherokees  from  Texas — Collapse  of  the  Public  Credit, 
and  the  Beginning  of  Retrenchment 96-106 

CHAPIER  SIX. 

Some  Notable  Men  of  the  Republic:  W.  H.  Wharton,  E.  S.  C. 
Robertson,  Edward  Burleson,  R.  M.  Williamson,  Robert  Wilson, 
Richard  Ellis,  Henry  Smith,  Emory  Raines,  Dr.  Alexander  Ew- 
ing,  Thomas  F.  McKinney,  Sam  M.  Williams,  and  William  L. 
Hunter 107-119 

CHAPTER  SEVEN. 

Method  of  Business  in  the  Clerk's  Office  —  My  Fondness  for 
Horses — Purchase  of  a  Ranch  and  Stocking  It — Removal  to  My 
Ranch  in  1847 — Our  Neighbors — Agricultural  Work  and  Stock- 
raising — A  Round-up — Incidents  in  the  Life  of  a  Cowboy — The 
Laziest  Man  in  Texas — My  Negro  Stockmen — As  a  Cattle 
Baron— The  Cattle  Trade  Then  and  Now 120-140 

CHAPTER  EIGHT. 

Honors  to  President-elect  Houston  En  Route  to  the  Capital — His 
Inauguration  and  the  Inaugural  Ball — Appointments  by  the 
President — Comptroller  Again — How  Austin  Then  Appeared — 
Resign  the  Comptrollership  and  Return  to  Houston — The  Work- 
ings of  Retrenchment — The  Exchequer  System  in  Finance — The 
Vasquez  Raid — Called  Session  of  Congress  at  Houston — The 
Woll  Raid — Volunteers — The  Somervell  Expedition — Dissen- 
sions and  Disaster  at  Mier — The  Texas  Prisoners — Congress  at 
Washington — Depreciation  of  the  Exchequers — Seat  of  Govern- 
ment Troubles — Complimentary  Resolutions  to  President  Hous- 
ton   141-156 

CHAPTER  NINE. 

Anson  Jones  President — His  Policy  Outlined  in  His  Inaugural 
Address — Discussion  of  Annexation  Between  Mr.  Donelson  and 
Secretary  Allen — The  Seat  of  Government  Trouble  Again — 
Houston  on  Annexation — My  Letter  to  President  Jones — Mex- 
ico Conditionally  Acknowledges  Independence  of  Texas — Vari- 
ous Annexation  Meetings — Convention  of  1845 — The  Republic 
in  Danger — President  Jones  Vindicates  Himself — Annexation 
Consummated — The  Closing  Scene  and  the  President's  Farewell 
Address.  ..157-178 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  TEN. 

Texas  in  the  Union — Henderson  Governor — The  Mexican  War — 
Texans  at  Monterey — General  Henderson  and  His  Brigade — 
Ben  McCulloch  and  Buena  Vista — Hays  and  Walker  with 
Scott — Peace  and  Territorial  Expansion — Democratic  Party  Or- 
ganization— The  Glor'ous  Fourth  at  Austin  in  1846 — Educa- 
tional Interests  in  Houston — Henderson's  Welcome  Home — His 
Character 179-189 

CHAPTER  ELEVEN. 

Wood's  Administration — Federal  Usurpation  at  Santa  Fe — The 
Public  Debt — Governor  Bell — Settlement  of  the  Santa  Fe  Ques- 
tion— Seat  of  Government  Election — Texas  Newspapers — Scal- 
ing the  Public  Debt — Whig  Convention  in  1852 — Election  of 
Pease  as  Governor  over  Ochiltree — Education,  Railroads,  Public 
Buildings — Settlement  of  the  Public  Debt — The  Know- Nothing 
Party  —  The  Organized  Democracy  in  1856  —  Know- Nothing 
Convention  at  Austin — Houston  the  Know-Nothing  Leader  in 
Texas — The  National  Canvass,  and  Personal  Incidents 190-208 

CHAPTER  TWELVE. 

Waco  Convention  and   Its   Nominees,   Runnels  and  Lubbock   vs. , 
Houston  and   Grimes — Candidates   for   Congress — Canvass   for 
the  State  Ticket — Reagan  and  Evans  Difficulty — Various  Inci- 
dents— Complete    Democratic   Victory 209-222 

CHAPTER  THIRTEEN. 

The  Seventh  Legislature—Election  of  United  States  Senators — 
The  Inauguration  and  Addresses  of  Runnels  and  Lubbock — 
The  Message — Establishment  of  the  University  of  Texas — Joint 
Resolutions — Frontier  Protection — Debates  and  Debaters — Res- 
olutions in  Memoriam — Stockdale  and  Bob  Taylor  Incident — 
State  Convention  of  1858 — Democratic  Mourners'  Bench  and 
Repentant  Sinners  223-235 

CHAPTER  FOURTEEN. 

The  Ranch  Again — My  Preparations  for  Raising  Asiatic  Poul- 
try— The  Various  Breeds  Kept  Separate — Some  Pleasure,  but 
No  Profit  to  Me  in  the  Business — Government  Importation  of 
Camels  in  1856-57 — A  Private  Cargo  at  Galveston — A  Year's 
Experience  with  This  Lot  of  Camels  on  My  Ranch — Items  of 
Camel  Life — Mrs.  Looscan's  Recollections  of  the  Camels 236-242 

CHAPTER  FIFTEEN. 

State  Convention  at  Houston  in  1859 — The  Platform — Its  Expan- 
sion Plank — Tabling  of  African  Slave-Trade  Resolutions — The 
Nominees — Congressional  Conventions  and  Candidates — Run- 
nels and  Lubbock  vs.  Houston  and  Clark — Campaign  Inci- 


xii  CONTENTS. 


dents — Election  of  United  States  Senator — Houston  Governor — 
Financial  Stress — Frontier  Troubles — State  Convention  at  Gal- 
veston — Resolutions — The  Delegates  to  Charleston 243-266 

CHAPTER  SIXTEEN. 

National  Democratic  Convention  at  Charleston — Disagreement  as 
to  Platform  and  Withdrawal  of  Southern  Delegates — The  Con- 
vention Fails  to  Make  Nominations  and  Adjourns  to  Reassem- 
ble at  Baltimore — Withdrawing  Delegates  Meet  and  Organize 
at  Richmond — Douglas  Faction  Reassemble  at  Baltimore — Ir- 
regular Proceedings  —  Withdrawal  of  Northern  Delegates — 
Douglas  Nominated  for  President — Adjournment — The  With- 
drawing Delegates  Meet  in  Convention  at  Baltimore  on  the 
Adjournment  of  the  Douglas  Convention  and  Adopt  for  a  Plat- 
form the  Majority  Report  Made  at  Charleston — Breckenridge 
Nominated  for  President  by  Delegates  Representing  a  Majority 
of  the  States — Yancey's  Speech — Adjournment 267-294 

CHAPTER  SEVENTEEN. 

Anti-Democratic  Politics — Constitutional  Union  Convention — 
Bell  Nominated — Platform — Houston  Announces  as  the  Peo- 
ple's Candidate  for  President — Lincoln  and  the  Republican 
Party — The  Feeling  in  Texas  Over  Lincoln's  Election — The  Se- 
cession Convention — Texas  Joins  the  Confederate  States — The 
Committee  on  Public  Safety — Failure  of  All  Peace  Overtures 
from  the  South — War  Begins 295-313 

CHAPTER  EIGHTEEN. 

Union  Element  in  Texas — Frank  Terry,  Tom  Lubbock,  and  Tom 
Goree  at  the  Front — Compliments  for  Gallantry  at  Manassas — 
Military  Operations  in  the  State — Shelling  at  Galveston — Pro- 
test of  Foreign  Consuls  to  Captain  Alden — My  Candidacy  for 
Governor — Dallas  Convention — Terry  Rangers — Trip  to  Rich- 
mond and  First  Impressions  of  President  Davis — On  My  Way 
Home  I  Saw  Tom  for  the  Last  "Time 314-32H 

CHAPTER  NINETEEN. 

Lubbock's  Administration — Inauguration  and  Address — Some 
Appointees — Message  Extracts — Personnel  of  the  Ninth  Legis- 
lature— Historic  Buildings — General  Hebert  and  Coast  Opera- 
tions— My  "Burning"  Letter — My  Veto  Message — Texan  Forces 
in  the  Field  and  Noted  Texas  Rangers 329-356 

CHAPTER  TWENTY. 

The  Frontier  Regiment — Militia  Organization — Message  on 
United  States  Bonds — The  Military  Board — Letter  to  Me  from 
Secretary  Benjamin — Exchange  of  United  States  Bonds  for 
Confederate  States  Bonds — Opinions  of  Wigfall,  Hemphill. 


CONTENTS.  xiii 


Waul,  and  Reagan — My  Reply  to  Secretary  Benjamin — The 
Board's  Circular  Address — Arsenal,  Cap  and  Cartridge  Factory 
at  Austin — War  Legislation — Colonel  Baylor,  Conquerer  of 
Arizona — President  Davis  on  Retaliation — The  Twin  Sisters — 
Attitude  of  Texas  in  the  War — Mason  and  Slidell — Confederate 
Disasters — Coast  Army  Ordered  to  Arkansas 357-370 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-ONE. 

Arrival  of  Col.  Tom  Lubbock's  Remains  at  Houston — Funeral 
Obsequies — Dearth  of  Arms — General  McLeod — Memorial  Ser- 
vices at  Galveston — General  Houston — Col.  O.  M.  Roberts  at 
Camp  Lubbock — Austin  Ladies  Meet  and  Adopt  Resolutions 
of  Sympathy  for  Their  Sisters  in  New  Orleans — Blockaders  Off 
Aransas  and  Velasco — Galveston  Threatened — Flags  of  Truce — 
Martial  Law — General  Hebert  Preparing  to  Evacuate  Galves- 
ton— Conference  of  Governors  at  Marshall ;  Its  Work  and  Re- 
sults   377-395 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-TWO. 

Letter  from  General  Hebert — General  Sibley's  Expedition  to  New 
Mexico — El  Paso — March  Up  the  Rio  Grande — Battle  of  Val- 
verde — Official  Reports — Socorro  and  Albuquerque — Occupa- 
tion of  Santa  Fe — Battle  of  Glorieta — Retreat — Peralto — 
Terrible  March  Across  the  Jornada — Return  to  San  Antonio — 
Sibley's  Final  Report — Reiley's  Mission  to  Chihuahua 396-409 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-THREE. 

Bombardment  of  Corpus  Christi — General  Bee's  Report — In- 
effectual Shelling  at  Port  Lavaca — Evacuation  of  Galveston  and 
Its  Occupation  by  the  Yankees — Letter  from  Me  to  General 
Hebert  on  the  Situation — Captain  Henry  S.  Lubbock  and  the 
Bayou  City — Colonel  Burrill,  General  Banks,  and  Military  Gov- 
ernor A.  J.  Hamilton — Our  New  Commander  and  His  Plans — 
Correspondence — Preparations  for  Recapture  of  Galveston.  .  .  .410-431 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FOUR. 

Battle  of  Galveston — General  Magruder  Leads  the  Land  Forces 
in  Person  and  Commodore  Smith  Commands  the  Cotton-Glads — 
A  Glorious  Victory — Official  Reports  from  Both  Sides — The 
Blockade  Raised — General  Magruder  Congratulated  by  General 
Houston  and  Others — Naval  Attack  on  Galveston — The  Ala- 
bama— The  Hatteras  Sunk — Battle  Off  Sabine  Pass  and  Con- 
federate Victory — Magruder's  Reports  and  Recommendations — 
Results  of  the  Month's  Campaign 432-4G2 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIVE. 

Extra  Session  of  the  Legislature — My  Message  in  Part — Lincoln's 
Emancipation  Proclamation  and  the  Negro  Question — The 
Texas  Quota  to  the  War — The  Frontier  Regiment — Yankee 


CONTENTS. 


Prisoners — The  Support  of  Families  of  Texas  Soldiers — 
Domestic  Manufactories — Barbarities  of  the  Enemy  in  Louis- 
iana and  President  Davis'  Policy  of  Retaliation — Frontier  De- 
fense   463-484 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SIX. 

Inspection  of  the  Fortifications  at  Galveston — Call  for  Ten  Thou- 
sand More  Troops — Want  of  Arms — Fall  of  Vicksburg — Procla- 
mations to  Encourage  the  People — President  Davis'  Letter  to 
Gen.  Kirby  Smith — Death  of  General  Houston — Gen.  Kirby 
Smith  on  the  Situation — Second  Conference  of  Governors  at 
Marshall — Indian  Frontier — Dick  Dowling's  Fight  at  Sabine 
Pass  485-509 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-SEVEN. 

Consul  Theron,  at  Galveston,  and  Governor  Pickens,  of  South 
Carolina — Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith  to  Minister  Slidell  in  Paris  on 
French  Intervention — Maj.  John  Tyler's  Memorial  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Texas — Governor  Murrah — My  Last  Official  Message 
and  Address — The  Military  Situation — Commissioned  as 
Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Confederate  States  Army 510-527 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-EIGHT. 

Banks'  Expedition  to  the  Rio  Grande — Colonels  Haynes  and  Davis 
and  Governor  Hamilton — My  Assignment  to  Duty  on  Ma- 
gruder's  Staff — Our  Need  of  Arms — Confronting  the  Enemy  on 
Matagorda  Bay — Baptism  of  Fire — No  French  Intervention, 
and  Change  of  Base  by  the  Enemy 528-533 

CHAPTER  TWENTY-NINE. 

Race  of  Armies  for  Red  River — Field  Transportation — Trans- 
ferred to  Gen.  Tom  Green's  Staff — Travel  with  Servant  and 
Pack  Mule  to  the  Front — On  Death  of  General  Green  Assigned 
to  Duty  on  General  Wharton's  Staff — Mansfield — Pleasant 
Hill — Yankee  Retreat — Monett's  Ferry — Alexandria — Man- 
sura — Norwood — Horrible  Barbarities  of  the  Enemy — End  of 
Campaign — Return  Home  with  General  Wharton — Again  at  the 
Front  in  Louisiana 534-547 

CHAPTER  THIRTY. 

President  Davis  Appoints  Me  Aide  on  His  Staff — Affectionate 
Farewell  to  My  Comrades  and  Departure  for  Richmond — Cross- 
ing the  Mississippi  at  Night — Arrival  at  the  Confederate  Capi- 
tal— Condition  of  Affairs  There — I  Attend  the  President  on  His 
Visit  to  Hood's  Army — Associates  at  Richmond — Hard  Times — 
The  Conference  at  Fortress  Monroe — Terms,  Unconditional  Sur- 
render— Confederate  Government  Defiant — Admiral  Semmes — 
The  Ominous  Pause..  ..548-502 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-ONE. 

Evacuation  of  Richmond — Confederate  Government  at  Danville — 
Lee's  Surrender — President  Davis  and  Staff  at  Greensboro — 
Halt  at  Charlotte — Sherman-Johnston  Negotiations — Depart- 
ure Southward  of  the  Presidential  Party  and  Escort — Last 
Cabinet  Meeting — Last  Council  of  War — Dissolution  of  the 
Government  at  Washington,  Ga. — Mrs.  Davis — The  President 
and  Party  Captured — Indignities — My  Letter  Home  Written 
from  Macon — Augusta — Reagan,  Stephens,  and  Wheeler — 
Fortress  Monroe  and  Fort  Delaware 563-577 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-TWO. 

Life  in  Prison — General  Schoepff — My  Bare  Quarters — Hard 
Fare — No  Books  but  the  Bible  and  Prayer  Book — No  Letters 
Allowed  to  Go  Out  or  Come  In — A  Ruse — News — Release — 
Washington  City — Interview  with  Secretary  Stanton  and  Presi- 
dent Johnson — Return  to  Texas  via  Cairo  and  New  Orleans — 
Welcome  Home — The  Situation  in  Texas 578-594 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-THREE. 

Beginning  Life  Anew — Settlement  of  Debts — Removal  to  Gal- 
veston  —  Beef  Packery  —  Heavy  Losses  —  Business  Tour  to 
Europe — With  Ex-President  Davis  in  Britain  and  France — Re- 
turn Home 595-603 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-FOUR. 

Reconstruction — Restoration  of  White  Supremacy — Tax  Col- 
lector— Ex-President  Davis  in  Texas — His  Welcome  at  Dallas — 
A  Candidate  Again — Troubles  in  Van  Zandt  County — Demo- 
cratic Ticket  in  1878 — Elected  State  Treasurer 604-616 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-FIVE. 

* 

Removal  to  Austin- — The  State  Treasury — Roberts,  Sayers,  and 
the  Public  Schools — Dr.  Cooper — The  University  of  Texas — 
Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College — Ireland — Fence-Cut- 
ting— Ross — Prohibition  —  Parsons'  Brigade  —  Elkhorn  Re- 
union— Railroad  Commission — Hogg — San  Antonio  Conven- 
tion— Wortham  Treasurer — My  Retirement— Ireland  and  the 
Granite  Capitol — Davis  Memorial  Services 617-629 

CHAPTER  THIRTY-SIX. 

Family  Matters — My  Present  Wife,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Black  Lub- 
bock — Her  Carolina  Family — Our  Visit  to  South  Carolina — 
Hospitable  Reception — A  Pleasant  Sojourn — Atlanta — South- 
ern Prosperity 630-637 


xvi  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-SEVEN. 

Penitentiary  Board  and  Board  of  Pardons — Hogg's  Re-election — 
His  Impress  on  Texas  Legislation — Sherman  and  Burnet  Monu- 
ment— Confederate  Reunion  and  Winnie  Davis — Culberson — 
Chilton — Primary  Election — Omaha  Excursion — Galveston 
Convention — Platform  on  Expansion — Sayers'  Administration — 
Executive  Appointments — A  Year's  Work — My  Adieu 638-643 

APPENDIX. 

Texas  Poets'  Tribute 645-649 

Speech  on  Jeff  Davis 650-667 

Military    Board 667-670 

Manufacture  of  Goods  at  State  Penitentiary  in  1861-2-3 671-673 

Interesting  Historical  Document 673-676 


OF 

FRANCIS  RICHARD  LUBBOCK. 


CHAPTEE  ONE. 

Early  Life  in  South  Carolina — La  Fayette's  Visit  to  Beaufort — Training 
Under  Irish  Schoolmasters — Removal  to  Savannah  and  Death  of  My 
Father — Return  to  Charleston,  and  Clerk  Life  there — Nullification 
and  Compromise,  1832-33 — Clerking  and  Cotton  Buying  in  Ham- 
burg. 

My  bark  has  a  long  time  breasted  the  restless  sea  of  life,  and 
now  that  it  is  approaching  the  port  I  feel  that  my  voyage  has 
not  been  profitless.  While  I  may  have  accomplished  but  little 
for  the  general  good  in  proportion  to  my  desires,  I  have  been  an 
active  worker,  endeavoring  to  serve  my  country  faithfully.  I 
may  even  venture  to  say,  that  according  to  my  means  and  abil- 
ity I  have  contributed  liberally  to  the  comfort  and  well-being  of 
my  fellowmen.  I  might  have  done  the  work  more  wisely,  more 
as  the  Judge  of  all  the  world  would  approve,  but  not  more  zeal- 
ously, if  I  had  only  put  as  much  thought  on  the  Christian  re- 
ligion as  I  have  recently. 

I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Beaufort,  on  the  coast  of  South 
Carolina,  October  16,  1815.  My  father,  Dr.  Henry  Thomas  Wil- 
lis Lubbock,  was  the  son  of  Capt.  Richard  Lubbock.  My  mother, 
Susan  Ann,  was  the  daughter  of  Capt.  Francis  Saltus,  all  citi- 
zens and  residents  of  Beaufort  district,  South  Carolina.  Both 
grandparents  were  English.  My  grandfather  Saltus  was  a  rich 
cotton  planter.  On  both  sides,  maternal  and  paternal,  my  fam- 
ily were  engaged  in  marine  and  mercantile  pursuits.  Captain 
Saltus  was  a  shipowner  and  wharfholder  in  Charleston,  and  with 
his  sons  carried  on  an  extensive  hardware  and  ship  chandlery 
business  in  that  city.  I  was  quite  a  favorite  of  his,  and  he  was 
so  jolly  and  good  to  me  that  I  loved  him  very  dearly.  He  died  in 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


1833,  leaving  my  mother  a  fine  home  in  Charleston.  He  came 
to  South  Carolina  in  the  last  decade  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

(Japt.  Kichard  Lubbock  settled  in  Georgia  about  the  same 
time.  He  was  an  elegant  old  gentleman,  and  social  in  his  habits 
and  full  of  fun  and  frolic.  His  death  occurred  at  Hamburg. 
S.  C.,  I  think  about  1824.  His  wife,  my  grandmother,  was 
Diana  Sophie  Sandwich,  of  English  descent.  She  survived  my 
grandfather  till  the  year  1833,  bequeathing  at  her  decease  a  few 
thousand  dollars  to  my  mother's  family.  The  masonic  fraternity, 
of  which  my  grandfather  was  an  honored  member,  erected  to 
his  memory  a  monument  on  Shultze's  Hill,  Hamburg.  My 
mother  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  but  my  father  was  born 
in  Georgia.  He  finished  his  literary  course  at  Oxford,  England, 
and  then  was  graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Medical  College  of 
Pennsylvania,  at  Philadelphia.  He  practiced  his  profession  a 
short  time  in  Beaufort  and  vicinity.  During  this  period,  in 
1811,  my  parents  were  married.  A  daughter  was  born  to  them 
in  1813,  and  I  was  the  second  child,  named  Francis  Richard,  for 
my  two  grandfathers.  Soon  after  my  birth  the  family  removed 
to  Charleston. 

After  making  Charleston  his  home  my  father  became  inter- 
ested in  steamboating.  He  commanded  the  first  steamboat,  the 
Commerce,  that  ever  made  a  through  trip  from  Charleston  to 
Augusta.  Henry  Shultze  (the  founder  of  the  town  of  Hamburg, 
in  South  Carolina,  immediately  opposite  Augusta,  Ga.),  and 
others  were  copartners  in  this  enterprise. 

At  the  age  of  three  years  I  was  sent  to  an  infant  school  ad- 
joining our  residence,  at  the  foot  of  Church  street,  on  South 
Bay,  Charleston.  I  presume  it  was  to  keep  me  out  of  mischief,  as 
they  said  I  was  very  naughty,  and  my  mother,  in  delicate  health, 
had  two  other  children  to  claim  her  attention.  Aunt  Yates,  as 
I  called  her,  was  the  teacher  who  exercised  her  ingenuity  to  keep 
my  superabundant  energy  moving  along  in  the  right  direction. 
I  remember  she  would  get  me  to  thread  needles  for  her  accom- 
modation out  of  school  hours.  Our  fondness  for  her  kept  us 
around,  and  lulled  the  restless  demons  within  us  into  quietude. 
Our  mothers  would  get  a  benefit  only  occasionally  of  our  exuber- 
ant spirits  and  reckless  efforts.  I  remember  a  special  occasion 
when  my  mother  must  have  been  terribly  shocked  by  the  result 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  one  of  my  adventures.  We  were  spending  Sunday  at  nay 
grandfather's  city  residence,  several  blocks  from  ours,  at  the 
head  of  his  wharves,  known  as  the  Saltus  wharves.  I  had  a 
great  fondness  for  boats,  and  owned  a  fine  miniature  schooner 
which  I  often  Bailed  here.  My  mother,  observing  that  I  had 
lugged  my  boat  with  me,  forbade  me  to  take  her  out  of  the  house 
or  go  near  the  wharf,  as  it  was  Sunday.  Wearying  of  the  con- 
finement, I  disobeyed,  and  taking  my  little  beauty,  I  repaired  to 
the  water  side  and  there  began  sailing  her,  the  plan  being  to 
start  my  boat  from  one  side  of  the  wharf  by  getting  into  a 
yawl  and  steering  her  across  the  dock  to  another  yawl.  Then, 
resetting  the  sails,  I  would  turn  her  back  to  the  point  of  starting. 
After  making  several  trips,  my  boat  was  about  to  pass  the  land- 
ing place;  to  prevent  this,  I  jumped  hastily  into  the  yawl,  which 
careened  as  I  leaned  forward  to  seize  my  boat,  and  I  fell  over- 
board. I  was  sinking  for  the  third  time,  when  a  seaman  who  had 
just  landed  from  his  vessel,  observing  me,  sprang  into  the  yawl, 
and  seizing  me  by  my  leather  cap  (that  fitted  very  close  to  my 
head,  and  was  fastened  by  a  strap  under  my  chin),  drew  me  from 
the  water  in  an  unconscious  state.  He  took  me  in  his  arms  to 
my  grandfather's  house,  where  I  was  laid  down  on  the  floor.  It 
was  then  discovered  whom  the  stranger  had  rescued  from  a 
watery  grave.  With  much  difficulty  I  was  restored  to  life  and 
consciousness. 

It  is  said  that  truth  is  stranger  than  fiction.  The  man  who 
saved  my  life  was  Capt.  William  Young,  a  nephew  of  my  grand- 
father's. He  had  just  landed  one  of  my  grandfather's  vessels, 
which  he  commanded,  and  my  kinsman  had  no  idea  whom  he 
had  rescued  till  he  arrived  at  the  house  bearing  his  cousin  in  his 
arms,  a  truant,  drowned  boy. 

For  several  weeks  I  was  quite  sick  from  the  effects  of  the 
salt  water,  and  though  finally  restored  to  robust  health,  I  was 
very  restless  at  night,  dreaming  continually  that  I  was  drowning. 

Providence  seems  to  have  guided  me  all  along  the  line,  giv- 
ing me  this  very  severe  lesson  and  punishment  for  disobedience 
and  Sabbath-breaking,  one  perceptible  to  a  child  not  yet  seven 
years  of  age.  I  have  learned  since  then  that  a  more  severe  pun- 
ishment in  its  results  is  Sabbath-breaking  that  gives  us  pleasure 
at  the  time  and  entirely  unattended  by  outward  mishaps  for 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


that  hardens  us  in  the  evil  habit  with  all  its  serious  conse- 
quences. 

It  was  next  decided  to  send  me  off  to  a  boarding  school.  I 
suppose,  as  I  was  considered  man  enough  to  launch  my  boat  in 
a  harbor  of  the  broad  Atlantic,  it  was  a  very  proper  decision  on 
the  part  of  my  parents,  though  I  was  of  such  a  tender  age.  I 
was  placed  under  the  tuition  of  an  Irish  schoolmaster,  Patrick 
Brett,  and  boarded  with  his  family  at  Edgefield.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Beaufort,  taking  me  with  him. 

I  have  sometimes  said  that  all  I  knew  in  school  books  was 
beaten  into  me  by  an  Irish  schoolmaster.  Most  certainly  I  made 
rapid  progress  in  my  studies  under  his  tuition;  for  he  was  a 
most  excellent  instructor,  and  a  man  of  fine  presence,  though  a 
severe  master.  He  believed  in  flogging,  and  being  a  man  of 
strong  passions,  sometimes  appeared  cruel.  His  wife,  a  lovely 
woman,  was  very  kind  and  helpful  to  the  children. 

Irritated  one  day  by  the  loss  of  his  favorite  whip,  which  I 
was  instrumental  with  some  other  boys  in  having  destroyed, 
Brett  said  after  finding  out  the  guilty  ones  that  he  would  flog  us 
all.  But  later  he  promised  to  let  me  off  if  I  would  buy  him  an- 
other whip  like  the  one  destroyed.  Though  I  bought  the  whip, 
giving  $1.25  out  of  my  pocket  money,  I  was  flogged  unmerci- 
fully, like  the  other  older  participants  in  the  mischief.  This 
flagrant  bad  faith  on  the  part  of  the  teacher  shocked  the  moral 
sense  of  the  whole  school  and  caused  considerable  indignation. 

As  soon  as  my  father  heard  of  the  affair  he  came  to  Beaufort, 
giving  Mr.  Brett  a  piece  of  his  mind  while  in  hot  temper;  not 
that  anybody  ever  thought  of  objecting  to  flogging — that  was 
good  for  such  boys  as  they  sent  off  to  boarding  school;  but  it 
must  be  done  fairly  and  squarely.  He  took  me  away  from  this 
school  and  placed  me  with  Mrs.  Agnew,  a  first-class  lady  of  a 
cultured  family,  to  attend  Beaufort  College.  Rev.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  principal,  with  authority  to  flog  me  when  I  needed  it. 

At  this  school  I  began  Latin,  which  was  continued  through 
my  school  days;  but  not  an  intelligent  word  of  it  would  linger 
in  my  memory.  By  my  experience,  however,  as  a  clerk  of  the 
court,  a  "venire,"  "habeas  corpus,"  "amicus  curiae,"  and  so 
forth,  were  made  familiar  to  me  at  that  time.  But  I  suppose  it 
served  its  purpose,  trained  my  mind  a  little,  and  kept  me  out 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  mischief  while  I  was  at  it.  I  got  up  a  little  enthusiasm  in 
my  studies  at  Brett's,  there  being  nothing  else  to  occupy  my 
mind.  But  at  Mrs.  Agnew's  I  sought  other  sources  of  activity. 

I  was  not  a  studious  boy,  nor  was  I  a  cherry-tree  George 
Washington  boy  either;  so  becoming  disgusted  with  my  books, 
I  determined  to  go  on  a  pleasure  trip.  I  walked  fourteen  miles, 
crossing  Port  Royal  ferry.  Arriving  at  my  grandfather's  planta- 
tion, I  said  to  him  that  hearing  he  was  ill  I  came  out  to  see 
him.  He  patted  me  on  the  head,  and  complimented  me  for  being 
a  brave  and  good  boy.  He  was,  however,  much  annoyed,  because 
he  was  just  leaving  for  his  summer  residence.  He  was  of  course 
entirely  well,  and  had  not  been  sick.  He  started  with  his  good 
grandson,  regretting  that  I  would  lose  a  few  days  from  school, 
the  very  thing  I  visited  him  for.  My  behavior  was  very  ugly 
and  unjustifiable,  and  this  time  I  was  checked  up.  He  had  pro- 
ceeded but  a  short  distance  when  Dr.  Fuller  in  his  carriage, 
going  to  Beaufort,  met  us.  My  dear  old  grandfather,  after  ex- 
plaining my  goodness  in  coming  to  see  him,  and  his  dislike  to 
my  losing  a  day  from  school,  requested  him  to  deliver  me  at 
Beaufort,  which  was  done.  Next  morning  I  reported,  and  re- 
ceived a  sound  thrashing  for  absenting  myself  without  leave. 
They  did  not  spend  sentiment,  but  thrashed  a  boy  in  those 
days — probably  too  often.  But  I  sometimes  think  a  great  deal 
more  thrashing  now  would  be  beneficial  in  some  schools. 

In  1824,  while  I  was  in  Beaufort,  about  nine  years  of  age, 
General  La  Fayette  visited  the  United  States.  He  made  the 
voyage  from  Charleston  to  Augusta  on  my  father's  elegant  steam- 
boat, the  Henry  Schultze.  My  father  himself  commanded  her 
on  that  trip.  He  was  an  aid  to  the  Governor  of  the  State,  James 
Hamilton,  subsequently  a  great  friend  to  Texas.  On  that  oc- 
casion General  La  Fayette  presented  him  with  a  fine  gold  snuff 
box,  now  in  the  possession  of  my  niece,  Adele  Lockart  Sayers, 
of  Gonzales.  In  consequence  of  the  steamer's  running  aground 
when  near  the  town,  she  was  detained  till  after  night.  A  pro- 
cession was  formed  to  receive  our  distinguished  guest.  I  was 
in  the  line,  carrying  a  sperm  candle  in  each  hand.  That  night, 
at  the  ball  at  Mrs.  Elliott's,  I  had  the  honor  of  being  presented 
to  the  illustrious  general,  and  complimented  by  him  for  my 
manliness  and  patriotism. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


A  startling  accident  occurred  that  evening  amidst  our  pleas- 
ure. Captain  Agnew,  adjutant  of  the  regiment  acting  as  the  es- 
cort, was  riding  very  rapidly  on  his  spirited  horse,  with  orders 
concerning  the  reception.  In  turning  a  corner  of  one  of  the 
streets  he  collided  with  a  heavy  gig  driven  by  a  boy,  and  con- 
taining two  ladies  going  to  the  ball.  They  also  were  driving 
rapidly.  One  of  the  shafts  with  a  sharp  point  entered  the  lower 
part  of  the  neck  of  Agnew's  horse,  and  also  made  a  fearful  wound 
in  the  thigh  of  the  rider.  He  and  his  horse  were  borne  off 
bleeding.  Careful  nursing  and  attention  for  many  months 
finally  restored  the  captain  to  perfect  health.  He  lived  with  his 
mother,  the  lady  with  whom  I  boarded.  The  horse,  too,  after 
a  time  was  all  right.  He  was  from  that  night  called  La  Fayette. 
He  was  a  beautiful  bright  bay  with  a  black  mane  and  tail,  and 
an  elegant  saddle  animal.  After  that  I  enjoyed  many  a  good 
ride  upon  his  back,  for  I  was  allowed  the  privilege  of  riding  the 
family  horses. 

Through  all  these  years  Beaufort  has  been  one  of  the  pleas- 
ures of  memory.  At  the  time  of  La  Fayette's  visit  I  fairly  ef- 
fervesced with  delightful  enthusiasm.  It  was  a  holiday  for  every- 
body. Our  guest  was  a  hero.  He  came  in  my  father's  boat  and 
I  took  great  pride  in  the  Henry  Shultze.  Steamboats  were  not 
common  things  in  those  days  as  they  are  now.  My  pleasure  was 
toned  down  soon  by  the  fact  that  the  very  next  trip  after  she  took 
La  Fayette  to  Augusta,  via  Beaufort,  a  fire  broke  out  on  the 
steamer  while  lying  at  the  Augusta  wharf.  She  had  a  large  quan- 
tity of  powder  on  board,  so  that  the  fire  department  were  warned 
not  to  approach  too  near.  The  boat  was  soon  blown  up,  scat- 
tering her  cargo  and  portions  of  the  wreck  far  and  wide.  The 
carpenter,  Jim  Porter,  a  free  colored  man,  for  whom  my  father 
was  guardian  and  with  whom  I  was  intimately  friendly,  carried 
with  him  on  the  boat  a  fine  fowl  of  the  best  game  blood.  This 
cock  was  a  passenger,  and  soon  became  quite  as  famous  in  our 
section  as  La  Fayette  was  illustrious  on  a  wider  stage.  He  was 
blown  high  up  into  the  air;  the  boat  went  down  to  her  wheel- 
house.  The  bird,  on  coming  down,  lighted  on  one  of  them, 
crowed — though  nearly  featherless — and  appeared  ready  to  fight 
the  foe  that  had  so  rudely  driven  from  his  quarters  his  cockship. 
He  was  cared  for  as  a  great  hero,  and  exhibited  as  the  brave 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


gamecock  defying  the  powder,  to  the  admiration  of  hundreds  of 
men  and  boys.  Although  I  never  fought  them,  even  when  it 
was  fashionable  for  gentlemen  to  do  so,  I  always  liked  game 
chickens  for  their  great  pluck  and  beauty.  It  is  said  that  a 
gamecock  is  the  bravest  thing  in  the  world.  If  a  bird  ever  runs 
from  cold  steel  he  has  dunghill  in  him. 

I  was  always  fond  of  riding  horses.  My  earliest  recollection 
tells  me  of  visiting  a  menagerie,  and  while  many  of  the  small 
boys  were  afraid,  I  just  insisted  that  I  should  ride  upon  the 
giraffe  or  camelopard.  My  father,  who  was  with  me,  indulged 
my  whim,  of  course  taking  care  I  was  not  hurt.  Afterwards  I 
never  was  afraid  to  ride  anything. 

I  vividly  remember  the  first  fall  I  ever  had  from  a  horse.  It 
occurred  in  Beaufort,  and  was  the  first  of  many  more,  though  I 
never  was  thrown  by  a  horse  except  once.  Mrs.  Agnew  had  a 
very  large  old  cream-colored  horse  that  she  drove  to  her  gig;  she 
allowed  me  to  ride  him  to  water,  and  sometimes  for  pleasure. 
Once  I  fell  in  with  some  boy  friends,  and  we  concluded  to  have 
a  race.  In  making  the  run,  while  bearing  hard  and  steadily  on 
the  reins,  they  broke,  and  over  the  old  horse's  rump  I  went, 
striking  the  ground  on  my  head.  Luckily  we  were  at  the  time 
in  very  deep  sand;  so  the  only  harm  that  came  of  it  was  a  good 
hard  fall  and  very  dusty  clothes.  Of  course  I  was  chagrined 
at  losing  the  race  and  having  a  fall,  but  the  blame  was  placed  "to 
the  mean,  no-account  bridle/'  and  not  to  any  fault  in  my  horse- 
manship. This  I,  at  least,  considered  unsurpassed  by  any  boy 
of  my  age,  and  my  companions  also  recognized  me  as  a  good 
manager  of  a  horse  and  a  fearless  rider  even  at  that  time. 

As  much  as  I  love  horses,  I  do  not  like  dogs.  At  this  period 
began  my  antipathy.  A  short  distance  from  the  town  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  my  father's,  Dr.  West,  lived.  I  was  spending 
Sunday  with  his  boys.  We,  the  boys,  got  through  our  dinner 
and  were  told  we  could  go  out  and  play  and  return  for  dessert. 
When  called  by  the  servant-man,  we  rushed  for  the  house.  Up 
on  the  piazza  an  immense  dog,  without  any  warning — not  even 
a  growl — seized  me  by  the  left  arm  and  actually  threw  me  out 
upon  the  ground.  Upon  being  picked  up  I  was  found  to  be 
very  badly  bitten;  one  of  the  main  arteries  of  my  arm  was  sev- 
ered. The  doctor  took  it  up,  and  I  was  sent  to  town  as  soon 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


as  possible.  The  dog  was  immediately  dispatched;  the  theory 
in  those  days  being  that  if  the  dog  should  ever  have  hydro- 
phobia in  the  future  the  party  bitten  would  go  mad. 

My  wound  was  considered  dangerous  by  the  physicians,  and 
at  one  time  a  consultation  was  held  as  to  the  necessity  of  ampu- 
tation. "  My  father  came  and  protested;  he  was  a  surgeon,  and 
believed  if  they  would  persevere  my  arm  could  be  saved  and 
the  danger  of  blood-poisoning  avoided.  It  was  finally  cured  up 
and  with  no  bad  result,  though  marks  made  by  the  teeth  of  the 
dog  are  still  distinct  after  more  than  half  a  century.  This  was 
one  thing  that  was  not  all  fun. 

Another  visit  to  a  boy  friend  proved  serious  to  all  except  my- 
self. On  this  occasion  several  of  us — Sam  Lawrence,  two  Bowles 
boys,  and  myself — concluded  we  would  prepare  fireworks  for  the 
Fourth  of  July  celebration.  We  took  possession  of  an  old  family 
carriage  of  Mr.  Lawrence  that  had  been  abandoned  to  prepare 
our  work.  The  composition  was  placed  in  it,  and  one  of  the 
boys  determined  to  test  his  preparation  on  the  inside  where  we 
were.  I  protested  and  begged  him  to  get  away  with  his  fire; 
that  he  would  blow  us  all  up.  It  flashed  upon  me  that  he  was 
void  of  sense  and  did  not  see  the  danger.  I  made  a  desperate 
plunge  to  get  out,  and  in  doing  so  struck  my  head  against  the 
rail  of  the  door  which,  fortunately  being  rotten,  gave  way  and 
precipitated  me  to  the  ground.  At  the  very  moment  I  escaped 
from  the  carriage  with  a  bruised  head  and  a  hard  fall,  all  the 
composition  and  dry  powder  within  it  exploded,  burning  Law- 
rence and  the  Bowles  very  seriously.  One  of  the  latter  came 
very  near  losing  his  eyes,  and  was  for  months  confined  to  the 
hoiise.  The  other  was  also  much  injured.  It  broke  up  our 
Fourth  of  July  celebration  that  time.  Thus  quickness  always 
served  me. 

I  had  a  royal  time  in  my  school  days  in  the  good  old  town  of 
Beaufort,  where  so  many  of  the  wisest  and  best  people  of  South 
Carolina  lived,  and  so  many  friends  of  my  childhood.  Among 
them  was  dear  cousin  Ann  Bythewood,  afterwards  Mrs.  Oswald. 
She  was  cousin  only  in  affection.  Nearly  every  Sunday,  and 
frequently  Saturdays,  I  would  spend  the  day  with  her  family. 
They  bestowed  every  care  upon  me,  and  were  as  kind  and  con- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


siderate  of  my  little  wants  and  comforts  as  my  mother  could 
have  been. 

It  almost  appears  as  if  I  have  not  been  telling  about  school 
life,  but  about  a  pleasure  sojourn  among  friends.  Well,  school 
did  not  weigh  heavily  upon  me,  but  even  now,  when  I  am  doing 
the  responsible  work  of  a  man,  I  have  time  for  social  pleasure; 
and  I  can  spend  an  evening  out  and  be  at  my  desk  next  morning 
ready  for  good  work.  The  truth  is,  I  think  it  helps  a  man  to 
take  recreation;  far  more  does  it  help  a  boy,  and  maybe  I  did 
my  school  work  about  as  well  as  such  a  bundle  of  rollicking 
activity  would  have  done  it  under  any  circumstances. 

Among  the  various  things  I  experienced  at  Beaufort  were  the 
chills  and  fever,  contracted  in  Edgefield  district.  This  was  con- 
sidered as  a  matter  of  course  in  one's  life  in  some  sections;  but 
I  think  it  was  on  this  account  that  I  was  taken  home  to  be  put 
under  treatment. 

Here  I  was  placed  in  the  South  Carolina  Society  School.  This 
institution  was  owned  and  managed  by  a  very  old  society  com- 
posed of  intelligent  and  prominent  citizens,  and  was  attended 
only  by  members'  children.  While  I  was  there  Mr.  Monk,  an 
Irish  gentleman,  was  my  teacher.  He  was  a  first-class  educator, 
and  although  like  all  Irish  teachers  (at  least  that's  the  way  it 
seemed  to  me),  somewhat  arbitrary,  was  on  the  whole  an  ex- 
cellent man,  and  I  esteemed  him  very  highly.  For  a  time  my 
brother  Tom  attended  this  school  with  me.  He  and  I  were  con- 
sidered wild,  mischievous  boys;  not  vicious,  but  just  full  of 
fun  and  devilment.  We  would  play  pranks — trip  folks  up,  tie 
cats  to  door  knockers,  tin  pans  to  dogs'  tails,  remove  sign  boards, 
fight  schoolmasters,  and  such  little  pastimes. 

My  overflowing  spirits  found  vent  frequently  in  the  company 
of  girls.  My  sister  Sarah,  two  years  older  than  myself,  attended 
dancing  school,  girls'  parties,  and  other  amusements  for  the 
young.  She  was  a  lovely  and  beautiful  girl.  I  was  very  fond 
of  her,  and  she  was  fond  of  her  eldest  brother  and  proud  of  him 
as  a  chaperon.  She  took  me  to  the  tailor  and  had  me  dressed 
up  in  swallow-tail  coat  and  brass  buttons,  pumps  and  stock,  like 
a  little  man,  preparatory  to  going  to  dancing  lessons.  This  gave 
me  a  fondness  for  the  girls  and  that  kind  of  pleasure. 

My  sister  became  a  beautiful  young  woman,  and  was  recog- 


10  LUBBOCJC8  MEMOIRS. 


nized  as  a  great  belle.  She  was  married  quite  young  to  Capt. 
James  Curry,  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  just  after  my  father's  death. 
They  resided  in  Charleston.  Captain  Curry  died  soon  after  the 
birth  of  their  second  son,  my  sister  following  him  very  soon, 
it  was  said,  of  a  broken  heart.  This  son,  Walter  Curry,  made  a 
splendid  young  man.  As  I  grieved  for  his  mother,  so  I  did  for 
his  early  death,  which  I  will  speak  of  at  the  proper  place. 

I  attended  a  Sunday  school  as  well  as  a  dancing  school  and  a 
day  school.  My  religious  training  was  not  overlooked.  My 
mother  was  a  Baptist,  my  father  an  Episcopalian.  In  such  cases 
the  mother  usually  is  authority,  and  she  sent  me  to  the  Baptist 
church.  The  Rev.  Richard  Furman,  a  grand  old  man,  was  the 
pastor,  and  subsequently  the  Rev.  Basil  Manly,  a  very  popular 
minister.  I  was  a  regular  Sunday  school  boy  and  enjoyed  it  with 
my  sister  and  my  sweetheart;  for  I  had  a  sweetheart  from  my 
infancy.  The  truth  is,  the  school  time  of  my  life  was  full  of 
pleasure  as  well  as  profit.  My  family  were  in  good  circumstances 
and  my  father  a  good  provider,  and  we  enjoyed  it. 

And  now  comes  my  last  school  year,  just  before  I  entered  my 
teens.  It  was  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  where  my  father  moved  his  fam- 
ily early  in  1828.  Again  my  teacher  was  a  native  of  the  Emerald 
Isle.  It  would  seem  that  everything  I  was  to  learn  was  to  be 
from  the  Irish.  I  don't  know  whether  my  father  thought  they 
were  the  best  educated  or  the  most  accomplished  floggers.  They 
certainly  had  the  combination.  Walsh  was  a  good  teacher  and  a 
splendid  specimen  of  manhood.  I  suppose  about  that  time  some 
of  their  best  men,  being  dissatisfied  with  affairs  in  their  own 
country,  were  coming  to  our  Republic.  I  wonder  if  my  fondness 
for  the  Irish  was  acquired  by  early  associations.  Maybe  so,  for 
I  never  cherished  any  ill-feeling,  and  I  do  like  the  impulsive, 
open-hearted  character  of  that  people.  My  sympathies  have  al- 
ways been  with  them,  and  I  am  for  home  rule  in  Irelana  as  well 
as  in  America. 

My  father's  move  to  Savannah  I  suppose  was  influenced  by 
his  losses  on  his  steamboats.  There  was  no  insurance  on  the 
Henry  Shultze,  and  the  Macon,  which  they  built  afterward  in 
Philadelphia,  was  a  very  costly  boat  and  expensive  to  run.  lie, 
with  the  hope  of  recovering  from  his  pecuniary  disaster,  rented 
the  City  Hotel,  the  principal  one  of  the  place  at  that  time. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  11 


Although  my  mother  had  her  suite  of  rooms  and  lived  at 
ease  with  the  children  apart  from  the  bustle  of  the  hotel,  my 
father  kept  me  busy  out  of  school  hours  assisting  him  in  his  ac- 
counts and  other  things  I  could  attend  to  intelligently.  Here 
was  the  beginning  of  my  business  education,  so  that  when  I  was 
left  an  orphan  boy  at  the  head  of  a  helpless  family  at  the  end  of 
a  year  I  felt  considerable  confidence  in  my  business  capacity. 

My  father  died  of  country  fever  while  he  was  preparing  for  a 
trip  to  England  to  look  after  an  estate  to  which  he  was  entitled. 
He  was  just  thirty-seven  years  old. 

Happily  he  left  us  with  a  large  and  valuable  home  in  Charles- 
ton, near  the  Battery,  to  which  we  at  once  returned,  with  a  small 
income  and  a  large  family,  two  daughters  and  five  sons — Sarah 
Sophia,  Ann  Bythewood,  Francis  Richard,  Thomas  Saltus,  Wil- 
liam Martin,  Henry  Shultze,  and  John  Bell. 

1  was  old  beyond  my  years  in  worldly  experiences,  and  realized 
at  once  the  difference  between  Frank  Lubbock  with  a  father  and 
Frank  Lubbock  without  a  father. 

Though  never  studious,  I  was  called  smart,  active,  and  indus- 
trious. I  could  keep  accounts  and  had  a  very  general  idea  of  busi- 
ness; so  I  decided  with  a  quick,  firm  resolve  to  attend  school  no 
more  and  at  once  to  seek  work.  In  this  way  I  could  relieve  my 
mother  of  supporting  me  and  possibly  aid  her. 

An  opportunity  offered  to  enter  the  hardware  establishment 
of  Mr.  James  H.  Merritt,  an  Englishman  of  very  austere  mien, 
and  with  very  arbitrary  business  rules.  My  grandfather  Saltus 
protested  against  my  going  to  him,  saying,  "With  your  positive 
and  independent  manner  and  quick  temper,  together  with  his 
arbitrary  conduct  and  real  meanness  to  his  employees,  for  I 
know  him,  you  will  not  remain  with  him  a  month,  and  it  will 
have  th|  effect  of  injuring  you.  Do  not  go  there;  wait  awhile." 
But  I  was  not  one  of  the  waiting  kind.  No  other  opening  being 
in  sight,  I  accepted  the  place,  beginning  work  at  $12.50  per 
month — not  much,  to  be  sure;  but  it  helped  to  move  along. 

As  my  grandfather  had  told  me,  it  was  rough  sailing  from  the 
start.  I  found  my  employer  unreasonably  exacting,  very  severe, 
and  at  times  cruel  to  the  negroes  in  his  service.  He  would  lec- 
ture me,  and  then,  when  I  would  stand  no  more,  he  would  com- 
pliment me  and  raise  my  salary.  To  show  how  exacting  he  was 


12  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


at  times,  should  I,  as  I  did  sometimes,  dress  up  at  dinner,  so  I 
could  go  directly  from  the  store  in  the  evening  to  one  of  my  en- 
gagements (I  belonged  to  several  organizations,  social,  military, 
and  political),  just  so  sure  would  he  have  something  special  and 
mean  for  me  to  do,  such  as  polishing  up  rusty  saws,  knives,  and 
carpenters'  tools.  I  learned,  however,  to  manage  this  matter. 
I  took  care,  when  I  desired  to  leave  early,  to  wear  my  store 
clothes,  and  to  appear  entirely  indifferent  as  to  the  time  of  quit- 
ting work. 

However,  I  had  said  to  my  grandfather  and  others  in  the  be- 
ginning, "I  will  stick,"  and  "stick"  I  did.  I  remained  in  this 
employment  three  years,  instead  of  one  month,  as  predicted. 

When  I  took  the  position  with  Merritt,  a  very  dear  friend  of 
mine,  Mr.  David  L.  Adams,  a  large  cotton  merchant,  cautioned 
me  about  the  wild  bo3rs  with  whom  I  would  come  in  contact, 
counseling  me  to  avoid  card-playing,  ardent  spirits,  and  tobacco, 
saying,  "I  have  tried  all  of  these;  they  are  useless,  and  injure 
one  mentally  and  bodily."  He  did  not  caution  me  against  the 
girls.  I  was  very  social  and  visited  constantly,  being  very  fond 
of  them.  In  most  families  there  was  a  sideboard  in  the  house, 
on  which  liquors,  wines,  and  cordials  were  offered  me  guests. 
I  persistently  refused  to  indulge,  and  up  to  the  time  of  my 
landing  upon  Texas  soil  I  never  partook  of  ardent  spirits,  and 
up  to  this  good  hour  I  have  never  had  a  piece  of  tobacco  or  cigar 
in  my  mouth. 

I  have  always  been  thankful  for  friendly  advice,  and  one  of 
the  causes  of  my  success  in  life  has  been  that  I  have  so  often  fol- 
lowed it.  I  tried  to  be  careful  of  my  conduct.  I  lived  with  my 
mother;  she  was  always  in  delicate  health,  and  in  addition  was 
so  near-sighted  that  she  could  not  recognize  her  own  children 
beyond  a  few  feet.  Thus  there  was  the  more  responsibility  rest- 
ing upon  me,  and  the  greater  reason  for  circumspection. 

But.  impulsive  and  excitable,  sometimes  I  had  on  too  much 
steam  and  ran  off  the  track.  Just  about  the  beginning  of  my 
clerk  life  I  was  involved  in  a  foolish  affair  that  was  kept  quiet 
at  the  time.  In  the  face  of  my  own  hasty  action,  Providence 
seemed  to  have  spared  us  from  what  came  near  being  a  sad  oc- 
currence to  many.  My  brother  Tom  was  attending  the  South 
Carolina  Society  School.  W.  D.  Porter  was  his  teacher,  an  ad- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  13 


mirable  young  man,  afterward  rising  to  considerable  distinction 
in  the  State.  He  concluded  it  was  necessary  to  chastise  Tom. 
Tom  was  very  stout  for  his  age,  about  twelve  years,  and  one  of 
the  most  stubbornly  brave  and  plucky  boys  I  ever  knew.  Porter 
worsted  him  on  the  occasion  spoken  of  after  a  hard  tussle.  Tom 
refused  to  return  to  the  school,  and  after  a  recital  of  his  wrongs, 
we  determined  to  whip  Porter. 

The  latter  frequently  walked  at  night  upon  the  Battery.  He 
lived,  as  we  did,  in  the  vicinity  of  this  lovely  spot.  We  took  the 
opportunity  when  no  one  was  near,  and  made  the  attack.  We 
were  fierce,  and  while  he  was  very  strong,  we  punished  him  quite 
severely.  In  the  conflict  we  bore  him  back  to  the  rail  of  the 
Battery  wall,  the  water  of  the  ocean  lashing  the  wall  and  the 
spray  beating  over  as  in  a  gale.  He  was  about  to  topple  over 
into  the  sea,  when,  with  our  strength  exerted  to  the  utmost,  we 
drew  him  back. 

Somewhat  alarmed,  we  left  him  about  where  we  found  him, 
a  badly  used  up  pedagogue,  with  his  fine  clothing  nearly  ruined. 
Tom,  of  course,  never  returned  to  the  school,  and  the  affair  was 
at  an  end  and  hushed  up.  Our  families  were  intimate  friends, 
and  some  family  connection  existed.  Two  boys  learned  a  better 
lesson  the  time  they  whipped  a  schoolmaster  than  they  ever 
learned  when  the  schoolmaster  whipped  them. 

I  remember  as  it  were  yesterday  an  affair  between  Mr.  Walsh 
of  Savannah  and  Tom  Lubbock.  He  punished  with  his  ruler 
very  freely  on  the  hands,  sometimes  so  severely  that  the  boy 
could  scarce  use  them  for  days.  Tom,  called  up  to  receive  pun- 
ishment in  that  way,  determined  to  make  a  passive  resistance. 
He  walked  up  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets,  and  positively  re- 
fused to  take  them  out,  whereupon  Mr.  Walsh  undertook  to 
take  them  out  himself.  Tom's  pants  were  of  good  material,  his 
pockets  deep,  his  muscle  fine,  his  courage  and  endurance  unsur- 
passed. He  was  tossed  almost  to  the  ceiling,  buffeted  about, 
and  severely  handled,  all  to  no  purpose.  The  strong  man  puffed, 
while  the  school,  indorsing  in  their  hearts  the  bold  protest  made 
against  the  common  enemy,  watched  with  admiration  the  boy's 
pluck,  and  were  elated  when  he  came  off  conqueror,  for  his  hands 
were  never  drawn  from  his  pockets.  After  this  the  ruler  was 


14  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


not  so  frequently  in  demand.  It  may  be  that  a  schoolmaster 
learned  something  on  this  occasion. 

The  Nullification  excitement  arose  very  high  in  South  Caro- 
lina during  the  year  1832.  General  Scott  came  down  as  a  pacifi- 
cator, and  succeeded  admirably  in  that  role.  But  the  influence 
of  Virginia  really  saved  the  Union  at  this  time.  Grand  old  Vir- 
ginia exercised  a  more  potent  influence  in  that  respect  than 
Scott  or  even  Clay.  South  Carolina  voluntarily  rescinded  her 
Ordinance  of  Nullification,  and  the  Civil  War  was  staved  off 
nearly  three  decades. 

South  Carolina  in  November,  1832,  passed  her  famous  Nulli- 
fication Ordinance,  making  null  and  void  within  her  limits  the 
oppressive  Federal  law  of  1828.  As  President  Jackson  declared 
by  his  proclamation  his  intention  to  execute  the  law  at  Charles- 
ton at  all  hazards,  and  sent  General  Scott  down  to  look  after 
the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  war  appeared  imminent.  But 
Virginia  came  forward  as  a  peacemaker.  Her  Legislature,  late 
in  January,  1833,  passed  resolutions  recommending  that  South 
Carolina  repeal  her  Nullification  Ordinance  arid  that  Congress 
mitigate  the  offensive  tariff  law,  and  sent  as  a  peace  commis- 
sioner Hon.  Ben  VVatkins  Leigh  to  Charleston.  Mr.  Leigh  did 
his  part  well  in  counseling  moderation  and  mutual  concession. 
Congress  early  in  March  passed  Mr.  Clay's  compromise  bill 
lowering  the  high  tariff,  and  South  Carolina  a  week  or  two  later 
repealed  the  Ordinance  of  Nullification.  That  there  was  not  a 
collision  of  forces  was  not  due  to  any  lack  of  bluster  on  the 
part  of  Jackson,  but  rather  to  the  moderation  of  General  Scott, 
to  the  patriotism  of  the  Virginia  commissioner,  Leigh,  and  to 
the  conciliatory  policy  of  Henry  Clay. 

Once  during  the  great  political  struggle  between  the  Union 
men  and  Nullifiers  the  two  parties  were  out  in  procession  at 
night.  In  passing  each  other  something  of  a  collision  occurred. 
Mr.  James  Adger,  of  the  Union  party,  was  struck.  He  was  a 
very  elegant  gentleman,  a  large  hardware  merchant,  and  next 
door  to  Mr.  Merritt.  My  employer  was  called  upon  about  it, 
and  an  attempt  made  by  some  parties  to  convict  me  of  the  act. 
Circumstances  sometimes  combine  to  hold  a  boy  up  to  unjust 
criticism,  and  even  condemnation,  when  he  is  innocent  of  wrong- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  15 


doing,  as  I  was  in  this  instance.  I  was  honorably  exculpated, 
and  retained  the  confidence  of  my  employer  and  friends. 

This  year,  1832,  was  a  period  of  great  political  excitement.  I 
took  eager  interest  in  the  issues  pending,  attended  all  the  po- 
litical gatherings,  and  listened  to  speeches  by  many  of  the  dis- 
tinguished men  of  South  Carolina  then  engaged  in  the  great 
State's  rights  struggle.  At  one  time  or  another  during  my 
Charleston  life,  I  heard  Hayne,  McDuffie,  Turnbull,  Hamilton, 
Pinckney,  and  Calhoun  speak. 

There  was  a  Young  Men's  State's  Eights  Association,  formed 
of  young  men  from  eighteen  to  twenty-one  years.  I  was  only 
seventeen,  and  I  am  proud  to  say  that  the  constitution  was 
changed  that  I  might  be  received  as  a  member,  and  I  was  im- 
mediately made  secretary  of  the  organization.  That  was  the 
period  that  fixed  my  political  belief  and  made  of  me  a  State's 
Eights  Democrat,  from  which  faith  I  have  never  wavered  to  this 
good  day.  I  was  also  a  sergeant  in  an  artillery  company.  I  had 
previously  had  some  military  aspirations,  and  received  through 
General  Hamilton,  one  of  my  father's  strong  friends,  an  ap- 
pointment to  a  cadetship  at  West  Point.  But  on  due  reflection 
and  consultation  with  the  family,  I  felt  constrained  to  decline 
the  honor.  What  influence  on  my  subsequent  career  the  ac- 
ceptance of  this  appointment  might  have  had  I  can  not  now 
conjecture.  It  is  certain,  however,  from  my  principles,  that  I 
would  have  sided  with  my  native  State  in  any  conflict  with  the 
Federal  Government. 

My  clerk  life  was  one  of  great  labor  and  activity,  and  each 
day  after  my  duties  were  performed  at  the  store,  I  was  kept 
busy  with  my  military  company,  political  organization,  and 
social  duties.  My  afternoon  holidays  were  few  and  far  between. 
Then  I  had  a  horse  or  a  boat.  My  sweetheart  had  a  share  of  my 
attention.  As  she  lived  a  long  way  from  my  home,  and  I  had 
been  on  my  feet  all  day,  I  rigged  up  a  novel  mode  of  transporta- 
tion. I  could  not  afford  a  riding-horse,  and,  sorrowful  to  think 
of,  there  were  no  street  cars  and  no  bicycles.  What  "a  love  of  a 
thing,"  to  use  a  lady's  expression,  is  a  bicycle.  I  almost  feel  like 
trying  one  now.  Then  what  a  halo  of  glory  it  would  have  shed 
around  my  boy  life  in  the  city,  with  my  girl  more  than  a  mile 
away!  But  love  laughs  at  difficulties,  and  the  fellow  that  swam 


16  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  Hellespont  would  be  no  greater  hero  than  I  if  I  had  some 
great  poet  to  make  rhymes  about  how  Francis  Richard  sur- 
mounted obstacles  to  get  a  smile  from  pretty  brown  eyes.  But 
I  had  no  poet,  and  I  will  just  tell  a  plain,  unvarnished  story — 
I  rode  a  mule. 

By  chance  I  got  this  mule,  a  small,  unbroken  one,  for  a  very 
little  money.  At  first  it  was  pretty  nearly  equal  to  working  my 
passage  on  a  canal  boat,  for  he  was  a  contrary  little  rascal. 
Soon,  however,  with  the  aid  of  a  small  club,  I  taught  him  to 
turn  a  street  corner.  If  desiring  to  go  to  the  left,  I  would  give 
him  a  good  rap  on  the  right  jaw,  and  so  if  I  wished  to  turn  to 
the  right,  I  would  give  him  a  reminder  on  the  left.  Nothing 
would  have  induced  me  to  ride  him  through  the  streets  in  day- 
light. But  this  was  before  the  time  of  electricity  or  even  gas, 
and  I  could  pass  unnoticed,  avoiding  the  stare  and  perhaps  the 
jests  of  my  friends  at  being  so  grotesquely  equipped  for  court- 
ing. In  daylight  when  I  rode  horseback,  though  I  could  sel- 
dom afford  the  luxury,  I  took  good  care  to  procure  a  spirited 
livery  animal.  In  returning  from  an  afternoon  ride  on  the  line 
of  the  South  Carolina  Railroad,  when  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
city  the  Charleston  train  came  steaming  along  and  was  about 
to  pass  me,  I  concluded  I  could  keep  along  with  it  and  probably 
outrun  it.  After  keeping  well  up  for  a  time  my  saddle  turned, 
taking  me  with  it.  Fortunately,  the  girths  were  good  and  strong. 
I  felt  that  my  safety  depended  on  my  holding  on,  which  I  did 
to  the  very  long  mane  of  my  horse.  It  appeared  that  at  every 
jump  I  would  be  struck  by  the  horse's  hoofs.  I  escaped  that 
danger,  however,  and  finally  succeeded  in  again  getting  my  sad- 
dle and  self  on  his  back  without  sustaining  any  injury.  I  was 
greatly  complimented  on  my  expert  horsemanship.  This  was 
the  first  railroad  I  ever  saw,  and  if  it  was  not  the  first  built,  it 
was  at  that  time  the  longest  line  in  the  United  States.  It  might 
appear  to  any  boy  at  this  day  very  foolish  to  attempt  to  outrun 
a  steam  engine,  but  at  that  time  I  was  not  far  off  when  I  thought 
a  good  saddle  horse  with  a  dashing  rider  could  outrun  an  iron 
horse.  At  all  events  I  knew  more  about  steam  then  than  the 
solons  of  Congress  did  about  telegraphy,  when  they  made  sport 
of  Morse's  first  project  on  that  line. 

While  clerking  with  Merritt,  my  uncle,  Capt.  Richard  Lub- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  17 


bock,  came  into  port  at  Charleston  with  his  brig  laden  with  a 
cargo  of  salt  from  Turk's  Island.  When  ready  to  sail  he  invited 
me  to  visit  him  and  go  out  with  him  in  his  ship  over  the  bar. 
I  accepted  his  invitation,  and  was  on  board  by  daylight.  After 
a  cordial  greeting  we  breakfasted,  and  then  we  sped  out  over  the 
bar.  Once  in  the  open  sea,  I  bid  a  final  farewell  to  my  uncle, 
who  died  soon  afterwards  from  hardship  and  exposure.  I  took 
passage  back  on  the  pilot  boat,  which  on  account  of  business 
with  other  ships  did  not  make  the  harbor  until  about  night.  My 
long-delayed  return  excited  some  uneasiness  with  my  mother 
and  employer,  as  I  had  gone  off  without  notifying  anyone  of  my 
intentions,  expecting  to  get  back  early  in  the  morning. 

On  one  of  those  glorious  afternoon  holidays  several  of  us  boys 
concluded  to  hire  a  boat  and  take  a  grand  sail  over  to  Sullivan's 
Island.  The  owners  of  the  boat  rigged  her,  hoisted  her  sails, 
and  started  us  off.  One  of  the  party,  taking  the  helm,  assumed 
command. 

For  awhile  everything  was  calm,  and  we  sailed  along  enjoy- 
ing our  voyage  immensely.  After  getting  out  some  four  or  five 
miles  and  nearing  the  island,  the  weather  became  squally.  The 
captain  and  the  crew  lost  their  heads  and  made  for  the  land  as 
direct  as  possible.  Just  before  reaching  the  shore  our  boat  cap- 
sized and  lay  bottom  upward.  Luckily  we  were  close  to  the 
shell  beach,  and  the  entire  party  reached  the  island  in  safety, 
but  looking  like  drowned  rats. 

We  then  took  a  steamer  back  to  the  city  and  notified  the 
owner  of  the  boat  where  we  parted  company  with  her.  We  had, 
of  course,  to  pay  damages  for  him  to  get  her  back  into  port,  and 
count  our  ruined  clothing  in  the  cost,  so  that  our  sail  was  a 
somewhat  expensive  affair  for  boys'  purses.  We  unanimously 
resolved  that  when  boys  launch  a  boat  in  big  waters,  if  they 
would  not  come  to  grief  they  must  have  an  old  tar  at  the  helm. 

While  I  was  a  good  worker  and  very  attentive  to  business  and 
recognized  as  entirely  reliable  (for  had  I  been  otherwise  I  never 
could  have  remained  with  my  exacting  employer),  I  had  my  fun 
and  a  jolly  good  time  all  the  same.  I  started  out  in  life  to  do 
that. 

I  had  enjoyment  with  the  girls,  pleasure  with  horses,  excite- 
ment with  steam  cars,  jolly  times  with  the  boats,  glory  with 


18  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  military,  and  unbounded  enthusiasm  with  public  meetings 
and  politics,  and  all  this  in  the  three  years  of  the  meanest 
drudgery  of  my  life.  Drudgery  it  was,  but  in  it  I  made  a  repu- 
tation that  gave  me  my  future  business  openings;  drudgery  it 
was,  but  it  was  an  education  in  business  methods  that  served  me 
well  in  all  my  after  years. 

Upon  leaving  Mr.  Merritt,  on  the  very  day,  at  an  increased 
salary,  I  entered  into  service  with  a  West  India  commission 
house.  My  cousin,  F.  C.  Black,  the  proprietor,  handled  large 
cargoes  of  sugar,  coffee,  cigars,  and  other  tropical  produce. 

After  a  short  time  of  service  with  Mr.  Black,  I  was  offered  a 
more  eligible  position  in  Hamburg,  S.  C.  This  I  accepted,  mov- 
ing to  that  place  in  1832,  going  into  the  house  of  Tully  F.  & 
II.  W.  Sullivan,  large  dealers  in  general  merchandise,  with  cot- 
ton warehouse  attached.  I  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  ware- 
house. This  town  was  next  in  importance  to  Charleston  as  a 
cotton  market. 

My  friend  Adams,  heretofore  spoken  of,  was  a  large  buyer, 
and  stored  with  us.  He  gave  me  the  authority  to  buy  cotton  for 
him,  and  I  was  allowed  to  do  so  by  the  firm.  This  gave  me  a  lit- 
tle income  beyond  my  salary.  My  commission  was  fifty  cents 
per  bale.  The  cotton  was  brought  in  on  wagons.  The  buyers 
would  meet  the  teamsters,  take  samples  of  their  cotton,  sit 
down  on  the  store  steps  or  under  a  tree,  make  offers,  and  trade. 

About  the  very  first  day  that  I  tackled  a  teamster,  being  new 
in  the  business  and  fearful  of  my  inexperience,  I  held  the  sam- 
ples too  long  to  suit  an  impatient  young  Irish  buyer  named 
Eooney.  He  became  rather  offensive,  twitting  me  as  to  my  slow- 
ness and  greenness.  Finally  he  attempted  to  take  the  samples 
out  of  my  hands.  In  the  scuffle  that  ensued  I  came  off  vic- 
torious, and  outsiders  exhibited  an  increased  respect  for  one 
who  never  failed  to  defend  his  rights  when  invaded. 

I  had  many  friends  in  Hamburg  and  was  received  very  cor- 
dially in  the  town.  My  name  was  known  and  highly  regarded, 
on  account  of  my  grandfather  Lubbock's  long  residence  there. 

I  spent  much  of  my  leisure  with  my  friend,  Mr.  Adams,  at 
his  country  residence.  I  had  also  a  dear  friend  in  Miss  Caro- 
line Hammond,  the  sister  of  Governor  Hammond  of  South  Caro- 
lina; they  resided  in  Kdgefield  also.  My  grandmother  Lubbock, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  19 


after  my  grandfather's  death,  had  removed  over  to  Augusta, 
and  I  had  other  relatives  near  by  in  Georgia.  My  employers 
were  kind,  considerate,  and  liberal,  so  that  I  lived  a  life  of  hap- 
piness in  Hamburg,  never  dreaming  of  a  change. 


20  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWO. 

Business  in  New  Orleans — The  firm  of  Keichum  &  Lubbock,  Drug- 
gists—  Marriage  with  a  Creole  Girl  in  the  Crescent  City — Louisiana 
Sugar  Planters  and  Government  Protection  —  My  Wife  and  I  on  a 
Visit  to  My  Mother  in  July,  1835 — Incidents  of  Our  Return  Home — 
Business  Reverses  and  Recuperation  —  My  Brother  Tom  a  Volunteer 
in  the  Texas  War— Visit  to  Texas  in  1836— Tom's  Story  of  Adven- 
ture—  Favorable  Impression  of  Texas  and  the  Texans. 

But  in  the  very  next  year,  1834,  Mr.  Willis  Holmes,  who  had 
gone  from  Hamburg  to  New  Orleans  and  engaged  in  the  cotton 
brokerage  there,  returned  for  the  summer.  I  had  a  particular 
friend  and  boon  companion,  Charles  T.  Ketchum.  His  son, 
Dr.  Ketchum,  also  a  friend  of  mine,  resides  now  at  Navasota, 
Texas.  Mr.  Holmes  was  on  intimate  terms  with  the  Ketchum 
family.  Charles  was  in  the  drug  business  with  a  mutual  friend, 
Dr.  Millican.  He  had  a  large  experience  for  a  young  man,  and 
was  considered  a  first-class  druggist.  Mr.  Holmes  talked  to  us 
very  freely  from  time  to  time  during  his  stay,  making  us  under- 
stand what  an  elegant  city  New  Orleans  was,  and  how  easy  it 
was  to  make  money  there  with  a  small  capital.  He  particularly 
recommended  to  Ketchum  the  drug  business  as  being  immensely 
profitable.  After  giving  the  subject  due  consideration,  we  de- 
termined to  go  to  New  Orleans  early  in  the  fall. 

The  next  question  was  means.  I  had  saved  up  a  few  hundred 
dollars;  so  had  Ketchum.  I  was  only  eighteen  years  of  age;  he 
also  eighteen,  but  a  few  months  younger  than  I.  We  had  both 
been  at  work  for  ourselves  for  years,  and  felt  that  we  were  men 
and  fully  competent  for  business.  I  had  no  idea  of  the  drug 
business,  but  I  could  learn,  and  I  could  keep  the  books  and  sell 
goods,  while  Ketchum  would  specially  attend  the  prescription 
department,  which  would  be  the  money  coining  part  of  the  con- 
cern. 

I  wrote  to  my  relative  and  guardian,  Mr.  Francis  C.  Black, 
of  Charleston,  opening  up  the  whole  business  to  him.  I  said  to 
him,  "Can  you  give  me  the  funds,  some  two  thousand  dollars, 
that  you  have  of  mine?  Will  you  risk  me?  If  I  succeed,  all 
will  be  well;  if  I  fail,  I  will  never  call  on  you  for  another  cent." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  21 


He  answered,  without  any  hesitation,  "The  money  is  at  your 
disposal."  That  gratified  me  as  much  as  the  confidence  of  the 
Texas  people,  when  they  trusted  me  with  greater  sums  years 
afterwards. 

So  prompt  were  we,  that  we  obtained  letters  from  the  drug 
men  of  Augusta  and  Hamburg,  and  from  friends,  indorsing  us 
as  proper  young  men,  stating  how  much  money  we  could  pay 
down  and  the  amount  of  stock  we  wished  to  purchase.  In  a 
few  days  orders  were  sent  to  Philadelphia  and  the  goods  di- 
rected to  be  shipped  to  New  Orleans,  so  that  they  would  arrive 
about  the  time  we  would  be  there  to  receive  them. 

All  things  being  arranged,  Ketchum  and  I  left  Hamburg  in 
time  to  reach  the  Crescent  City  about  the  first  day  of  October, 
1834. 

I  was  eager  to  pursue  my  fortune  in  the  Great  West.  I  was 
regretful,  it  is  true,  at  leaving  them,  but  neither  a  pleasant  sit- 
uation, nor  friends,  nor  home,  nor  mother,  nor  sweetheart,  could 
hold  me  back  from  the  splendid  success  we  anticipated. 

As  in  Charleston,  so  in  Hamburg  I  found  a  girl  that  I  sup- 
posed I  loved  desperately.  The  correspondence  between  my  old 
sweetheart  and  myself  had  grown  cold  and  colder,  until  it  finally 
ceased,  and  I  spent  many  of  my  leisure  hours  in  the  delightful 
society  of  my  new  one,  horseback  riding,  attending  church, 
rambling  through  the  woods  gathering  sweet  shrubs  and  yellow 
jasmines  that  grew  luxuriantly  there,  and  in  the  meantime  build- 
ing air  castles.  When  I  was  about  to  leave  Hamburg  I  made 
an  appeal  that  she  would  wait  for  me  awhile,  that  I  would  re- 
turn and  claim  her.  She  said,  "Francis,  I  know  you  better  than 
you  know  yourself.  You  will  soon  find  a  girl  in  New  Orleans 
that  you  will  love  better  than  you  do  me,  and  you  will  marry 
there."  We  parted  good  friends.  The  sequel  will  show  how  it 
turned  out. 

October,  1834,  found  us  (Ketchum  and  myself)  in  New  Or- 
leans, at  the  City  Hotel,  at  that  time  the  leading  inn  of  the 
place. 

We  had  letters  of  introduction  to  many  parties.  Some  of 
them  we  delivered  promptly,  hoping  to  get  information  as  to 
business  matters,  such  as  rents  and  eligible  locations.  I  had 
letters  to  Mr.  John  B.  Leefe,  who  knew  me  as  a  boy,  our  fam- 


22  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ilies  in  Charleston  being  well  acquainted.  He  had  been  in  New 
Orleans  several  years,  and  was  a  prominent  cotton  broker 
there.  He  had  married  into  a  well-known  French  Creole  fam- 
ily. In  a  few  hours  after  our  arrival  I  was  invited  to  his  house, 
introduced  to  his  wife,  his  mother-in-law,  Mrs.  Baron,  his  wife's 
sister,  Miss  Adele  Baron,  and  to  other  members  of  his  wife's 
family. 

We  lost  but  little  time  in  looking  about  for  a  location. 
Matthew  Morgan,  a  large  real  estate  owner,  was  erecting  on 
Camp  Street,  a  fine  central  location,  several  granite-front,  three- 
story  houses.  We  soon  determined  to  take  one  of  them,  No.  37 
Camp  Street.  The  rent  was  $1200  per  annum.  It  appeared 
high  to  us,  but  we  concluded  we  had  better  start  on  a  good  street 
and  in  a  handsome  house,  and  reduce  our  rent  by  subletting  a 
portion  for  offices.  We  soon  had  our  establishment  fitted  up 
nicely,  and  the  firm  of  Ketchum  &  Lubbock,  having  received 
their  goods,  erected  their  sign,  unfurled  their  banner  to  the 
breeze,  and  were  recognized  as  men  of  affairs. 

Our  business  was  good  from  the  very  beginning  and  increased 
rapidly.  We  very  soon  became  ambitious  to  extend  our  trade, 
finding  many  opportunities  to  sell  at  wholesale  to  country  mer- 
chants from  Louisiana  and  Mississippi.  Such  sales  were  invaria- 
bly made  on  a  credit.  Our  standing  in  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia being  good,  we  ordered  liberally  to  meet  this  increased 
demand;  hence,  for  our  limited  capital,  we  were  doing  too  much 
credit.  In  a  very  short  time  we  also  bought  largely  of  castor  oil 
in  barrels,  brought  down  the  Mississippi,  and  shipped  to  Phila- 
delphia for  refining.  Upon  several  shipments  we  lost  very  heav- 
ily, on  account  of  leakage  and  depressed  market.  It  was  worth 
eighty  to  one  hundred  dollars  per  barrel. 

In  addition  to  this,  my  relative  and  friend,  Mr.  Black,  of 
Charleston,  having  offered  to  advance  on  bacon  and  lard  for  his 
West  India  house,  we  were  induced  to  make  frequent  shipments, 
and  sometimes  of  sugar  and  molasses  in  addition.  This  was  a 
departure  from  our  regular  line  of  trade,  and,  as  is  usually  the 
case,  proved  unremunerative. 

We  were  economical  in  our  store.  Ketchum  attended  strictly 
to  the  sale  of  medicines,  putting  up  all  prescriptions.  I  attended 
strictly  to  the  books  and  accounts,  selling  articles  only  by  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  23 


package,  and  oil  and  paints  as  usually  kept  in  such  establish- 
ments. We  were  active,  industrious,  and  attentive  to  business, 
and  we  believed  that  in  the  main  we  were  doing  well,  and  that 
our  gains  would  far  exceed  our  losses. 

I  was  in  Mr.  Leefe's  family  quite  frequently.  His  wife  was 
amiable.  Her  sister  was  there  almost  daily,  the  residence  of 
her  mother  being  in  the  vicinity.  They  all  spoke  French.  I 
was  anxious  to  acquire  the  language,  and  as  a  favor  to  me  Mr. 
Leefe  took  me  to  board  with  them.  My  evenings  were  spent  at 
home,  and  if  Miss  Adele  failed  to  be  there,  I  soon  began  goiner 
over  to  her  mother's.  She  was  very  affable,  a  fine  musician, 
having  a  beautiful  voice,  though  her  songs  were  in  French,  with 
the  exception  of  one  or  two  English  ditties.  The  very  fact  ti^at 
she  spoke  little  and  poor  English  made  her  more  interesting  to 
me.  As  my  girl  friend  had  said  to  me  on  leaving  Hamburg,  I 
was  soon  very  desperately  in  love  with  the  Creole  girl.  I  taught 
her  English;  she  could  not  teach  me  French.  I  made  a  favorable 
impression,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  February,  1835,  with  the 
consent  and  approval  of  the  entire  family,  was  married  to  Miss 
Adele  Baron.  Her  age  was  sixteen  years  and  a  few  months,  and 
mine  a  few  months  less  than  twenty. 

My  wife's  family  were  all  Catholics.  When  we  waited  upon 
the  priest  for  arrangements  to  have  the  bans  published  in  the 
church,  he  questioned  me  as  to  my  faith  and  certificates  of  bap- 
tism. I  told  him  my  father  was  brought  up  in  the  Church  of 
England  and  my  mother  was  a  Baptist,  hence  it  was  my  opinion 
that  I  had  never  been  baptized.  He  exclaimed,  "What!  Then 
you  are  a  heathen!  I  can  not  publish  the  bans  or  marry  you 
until  you  are  baptized."  "Go  on  with  the  christening  then," 
said  I;  "the  time  is  fixed  for  marrying,  and  marry  we  must." 
So  I  was  immediately  christened.  My  sister  Annie  thinks  I 
ought  to  have  known,  as  she  was  told  that  we  were  baptized  in 
infancy. 

In  a  few  days  after  our  marriage  we  located  in  a  pleasant 
house  on  Carondelet  Street,  near  our  place  of  business.  Mrs. 
Baron,  with  her  two  sons,  resided  with  us,  and  we  were  happy 
and  lived  well  without  being  extravagant.  I  became  very  fond 
of  French  cooking  and  their  style  of  housekeeping. 

My  mother-in-law  and  myself  were  always  good  friends,  and 


24  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


since  my  experience  in  that  direction  I  have  always  had  a  re- 
spect for  a  man  that  has  sense  enough  to  love  his  mother-in- 
law,  and  impress  her  with  the  fact  that  he  is  entitled  to  her 
special  care  and  attention. 

Our  life  was  one  of  active,  energetic  business,  together  with 
much  pleasure.  My  wife's  relations  were  very  social  and  fond 
of  gayety,  and  most  of  my  leisure  time  was  passed  with  them. 
Her  father,  N.  A.  Baron,  Jr.,  was  a  prominent  cotton  and  sugar 
dealer  of  New  Orleans,  when  he  died  of  cholera,  in  1832.  Her 
mother  was  Laura  Bringier,  daughter  of  Dorado  Bringier,  one 
of  the  earliest  cotton  planters  and  afterwards  one  of  the  largest 
sugar  growers  in  Louisiana.  He  came  there  from  the  San  Do- 
mingo troubles  late  in  the  last  century.  Her  uncle,  Don  Louis 
Bringier,  was  at  that  time  the  surveyor-general  of  the  State  of 
Louisiana;  her  widowed  aunts,  Tureaud,  Colomb,  and  Bringier, 
lived  on  large  sugar  plantations  on  the  river,  not  far  from  the 
city.  To  them  we  made  frequent  visits,  which  were  enjoyed 
immensely. 

While  it  may  be  said  that  some  of  the  sugar  planters  of  Louis- 
iana were  uncultured  men,  as  a  class  they  were  well  educated 
and  elegant  gentlemen.  They  were  liberal  and  hospitable  at 
the  time  I  speak  of,  and  up  to  the  war  between  the  States  they 
were  the  most  luxurious  livers  I  have  ever  known  on  either  side 
of  the  Atlantic.  They  had  fine  plantations,  good  houses,  well- 
kept  grounds,  excellent  horses,  well-trained  servants,  and  tables 
laden  with  the  best  of  everything  that  the  New  Orleans  market 
or  the  country  afforded,  excellent  beef  and  mutton,  game  of 
every  kind,  fish,  terrapin,  tropical  and  other  fruits,  elegant  sweet- 
meats, wines  of  every  vintage,  from  table  claret,  following  along 
to  Burgundy  and  Champagne,  old  Cognac  bringing  up  the  rear, 
with  cordials  of  every  description,  especially  Maraschino  and 
Curacoa. 

These  planters  received  government  protection,  and  at  that 
time  they  generally  advocated  the  principles  of  the  Native 
American  party,  which  was  very  similar  to  what  was  in  after 
years  called  the  Know-nothing  party,  and  composed  principally 
of  old-time  Whigs  and  high  tariff  protection  men.  Though 
while  I  was  in  New  Orleans  I  was  strictly  business,  and,  not 
being  of  age,  never  voted,  I  took  great  interest  in  political  mat- 


MY   BROTHERS   AND   SISTERS. 


Thomas  8.  Lubbock. 
Sarah  S.  C'urry. 

Win.  M.  Lubbock 


Henry  S.  Lubbock. 
Anna    I1..   Lockart. 
John   B.  Lubbock. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  25 


ters,  and  fought  this  party  on  all  occasions,  particularly  my 
wife's  kin,  who  were  more  or  less  interested  in  sugar  planting 
and  wanted  protection,  advocating  legislation,  as  I  told  them, 
for  the  benefit  of  a  few  at  the  expense  of  the  many.  I  am  to-day 
still  fighting  on  the  same  line,  opposed  to  all  protection  and  class 
legislation. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1835,  I  received  intelligence  that  my 
mother  was  ill.  For  a  long  time  in  feeble  health,  she  was  fail- 
ing more  rapidly  now.  Fearing  the  worst  for  her,  I  immediately 
commenced  preparation  for  the  trip,  and  about  the  last  of  May 
left  New  Orleans  on  a  sailing  vessel  for  Charleston,  that  being 
considered  the  best  way  at  that  time  to  make  the  journey.  In 
consequence  of  adverse  winds  and  a  very  heavy  storm,  we  had 
quite  a  long  and  disagreeable  passage,  arriving,  however,  en- 
tirely well,  about  the  middle  of  June. 

The  great  fire  that  visited  Charleston  was  at  that  time  still 
burning,  and  I  can  never  forget  the  night  we  landed,  for  the 
entire  center  of  the  city  seemed  wrapped  in  flames. 

We  found  my  mother  very  feeble.  My  eldest  sister,  her  hus- 
band, Captain  Curry,  a  most  excellent  man  and  good  son  to  our 
mother,  with  my  four  brothers  and  sister  Annie  were  with  her, 
constituting  a  happy  household,  but  with  a  cloud  overhanging 
them,  the  probable  early  departure  of  our  devoted  mother. 

From  the  moment  my  wife  entered  the  house  they  all  ap- 
peared delighted  with  her,  and  she  grew  day  by  day  upon  my 
mother's  heart  by  her  gentleness  and  tender  care  for  her.  As 
for  me,  while  I  could  but  grieve  over  the  occasion  of  my  visit,  I 
was  proud  to  see  how  they  all  admired  my  young  Creole  wife, 
and  I  was  happy  to  know  that,  at  a  far  off  distance  from  home 
and  only  nineteen  years  of  age,  I  had  been  fortunate  enough  to 
select  a  companion,  a  perfect  stranger  to  my  people,  whom  they 
could  love  as  a  daughter  and  sister. 

My  mother's  life  closed  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July, 
1835,  her  children  around  her,  at  her  residence  on  South  Bat- 
tery, Charleston,  S.  C.,  just  as  the  guns  commenced  booming  in 
celebration  of  the  day.  My  sister,  Mrs.  Curry,  was  afterwards 
head  of  the  household. 

It  has  always  been  a  gratification  to  me  that,  immersed  as  I 
was  in  business,  and  happy  as  I  was  at  home  with  my  young 


26  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


wife,  that  I  acted  so  promptly  and  made  the  difficult  journey 
that  I  might  be  with  my  mother  to  render  aid  and  comfort  to 
her  and  the  family. 

My  brother  Tom  was  at  home,  having  but  recently  returned 
from  New  York  under  peculiar  circumstances,  which  I  will  re- 
late, for  the  reason  that  the  return  probably  changed  his  entire 
life,  and  under  Providence  directed  mine. 

He  had  selected  the  engineer's  trade,  the  building  of  steam 
engines  having  made  quite  an  impression  on  him.  My  brother- 
in-law,  who  was  largely  interested  in  the  steamboat  interest, 
selected  the  Allair  Iron  Works,  of  New  York,  the  largest  estab- 
lishment of  the  kind  then  in  the  United  States.  Tom  was  ap- 
prenticed to  them  by  Captain  Curry.  He  appeared  pleased  for  a 
time,  and  was  getting  along  well. 

To  the  amazement  of  the  family,  he  suddenly  appeared  at 
home.  This  explanation  followed:  He  was  called  while  at  work 
on  a  boiler  to  go  immediately  to  the  postoffice.  He  had  on  his 
working  suit,  very  black  and  dirty,  and  consumed  a  little  while 
getting  ready.  The  foreman  called  him  and  ordered  him  to  go 
without  changing  his  clothes.  He  refused  positively  to  go  in  his 
condition,  giving  as  a  reason  that  he  had  to  pass  some  kinfolks 
and  others  of  his  acquaintance,  and  he  did  not  intend  appearing 
as  a  chimney-sweep.  "I  left,  here  I  am,  and  there  is  a  mighty 
good  engineer  spoiled."  He  was  remonstrated  with,  told  he  was 
an  apprentice,  and  that  there  would  be  trouble.  He  persisted, 
and  finally  Captain  Curry  succeeded  in  compromising  with  the 
company. 

After  much  talk  with  Tom,  he  said,  "Let  me  go  to  New  Or- 
leans with  you;  I  will  get  into  something  there;  the  folks  will 
not  be  bothered  with  me  here.  I  can  take  care  of  myself  if  you 
will  give  me  a  chance."  So  it  was  agreed,  and  he  accompanied 
me  to  New  Orleans. 

We  had  a  hard  trip  getting  back;  took  the  South  Carolina 
Railroad  to  Hamburg,  stopping  over  to  see  my  friends.  I  found 
my  former  sweetheart  married  to  a  cousin  of  mine  and  very 
happy.  She  protested  that  she  did  not  marry  until  after  she 
heard  of  my  marriage,  which  she  had  predicted.  They  all 
treated  me  very  handsomely,  and  were  delighted  with  my  wife. 

From  Hamburg  we  staged  it  to  Montgomery,  Ala.,  a  long  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  27 


wearisome  trip.  We  had  a  crowded  coach  all  the  way,  and  it  was 
very  hot  weather. 

Quite  an  amusing  incident  occurred  at  Columbus,  Ga.  We 
were  well  entertained,  and  the  old  landlady  came  into  our  room 
after  dinner,  entering  into  friendly  conversation  with  us.  She 
was  quite  inquisitive — What  name?  Where  from?  Where  going? 
My  wife  replied,  "We  are  going  to  New  Orleans."  "Why,  my 
dear  children,  ain't  you  feared  to  go  thar?  The  yellow  fever  is 
bad;  killing  off  everybody."  My  wife  said,  "Oh,  no;  we  are  not 
afraid.  I  am  a  Creole,  and  as  for  my  husband,  he  is  from  Charles- 
ton, and  a  Charlestonian  never  has  yellow  fever  in  New  Or- 
leans." "Why,  you  children  married  ?  I  though  you  was  brother 
and  sister.  Why,  look  here,  you  a  Creole  and  been  to  my  table? 
If  I  had  knowed  you  had  nigger  blood  you  couldn't  have  set  at 
my  table.  But  you  don't  look  like  you  had  any  nigger  blood  in 
you."  My  wife  was  a  blonde,  with  gray  eyes  and  light  brown 
hair,  looking  like  her  father,  who  was  a  Parisian.  We  of  course 
explained  to  the  old  lady  the  meaning  of  Creole  as  used  in 
Louisiana  and  eased  her  mind  as  to  allowing  nigger  blood  at 
her  table. 

As  more  intelligent  people  than  our  landlady  do  not  under- 
stand it,  I  will  explain  the  word.  Creole  means  a  native,  so 
that  children  born  of  French  parents  in  Louisiana  are  desig- 
nated as  French  Creoles;  those  born  of  American  parents  as 
American  Creoles;  of  negroes,  as  negro  Creoles.  Chickens,  eggs, 
and  such  things  are  called  Creole  chickens,  and  so  on,  and  these 
are  preferred.  This  is  the  way  it  is  used  also  in  the  West  Indies. 

Between  Columbus  and  Montgomery  our  stage  was  upset, 
wounding  several  passengers.  My  wrist  was  badly  sprained.  My 
wife  was  seriously  injured.  On  arriving  at  Montgomery  I  had 
to  call  in  medical  aid  to  my  wife,  and  we  were  delayed  for  awhile. 
To  this  occurrence  was  attributed  her  lifelong  ill  health,  as  she 
was  hurt  severely  at  a  time  the  most  critical  for  a  woman.  We 
left  in  a  few  days  on  a  boat  to  Mobile,  thence  to  New  Orleans, 
arriving  in  September. 

The  few  months  during  our  absence  made  some  changes  in 
our  business,  and  by  the  next  spring  things  became  serious.  We 
had  a  large  amount  out  in  Mississippi  and  Louisiana;  collections 
were  poor;  times  were  becoming  very  stringent;  '36  was  a  year 


28  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  financial  disaster.  We  had  done  more  business  than  our- capi- 
tal justified,  and  in  the  Black  case  we  had  gone  outside  of  our 
business.  Some  of  our  creditors  were  pressing.  So  after  ad- 
vising with  friends,  we  determined  to  surrender  our  establish- 
ment and  assets  for  the  benefit  of  our  creditors.  We  were 
honorable  in  giving  up  everything.  I  made  no  claim  for  money 
of  Mrs.  Lubbock's  used  in  the  concern,  which  in  Louisiana  at 
that  day  was  a  preferred  claim.  I  reserved  nothing  but  my 
hc-rse,  as  I  would  then  be  living  a  long  distance  from  the  busi- 
ness center;  my  household  furniture,  not  very  expensive,  I  also 
retained. 

In  a  few  days  after  giving  up  the  store  to  the  assignee  I  ac- 
cepted a  place  with  the  largest  dealers  in  watches,  jewelry,  sil- 
verware, and  firearms  in  the  city — Whittimore,  Blair  &  Co. — 
with  a  salary  of  two  thousand  dollars  per  annum. 

Soon  after  our  return  from  South  Carolina  I  had  succeeded 
in  getting  a  good  position  for  my  brother  Tom  in  the  cotton 
business  with  Mr.  Holmes.  Then  came  the  circumstance  that 
changed  the  course  of  our  lives.  Just  about  this  time,  the  fall 
of  1835,  much  was  being  said  about  Texas.  A  call  was  made  for 
a  meeting  to  extend  aid  to  Texas,  then  invaded  by  the  Mexi- 
cans. Two  friends  of  mine,  H.  C.  Morris  and  William  G.  Cooke, 
were  engineering  the  meeting.  The  morning  after  the  meeting 
Tom  informed  me  that  he  was  the  first  to  volunteer,  and  he 
wished  me  to  assist  him  off.  I  was  sadly  disappointed.  He  had 
a  good  place.  He  was  so  young  to  go  on  such  an  expedition  with- 
out a  particular  friend  or  counselor.  Though  well  up  in  all 
manly  sports,  quite  an  athlete,  very  strong  and  muscular,  and 
full  of  fire  and  determination,  he  was  only  seventeen  years  of 
age.  But  as  he  was  fixed  in  his  purpose,  I  fell  into  his  views, 
fitted  him  out,  and  bade  him  godspeed,  knowing  that  our  folks 
at  home  in  South  Carolina  would  censure  me  for  submitting  to 
the  arrangement. 

Thus  he  left  New  Orleans  with  his  company,  known  as  the 
"New  Orleans  Grays,"  the  first  volunteer  company  to  arrive  in 
Texas  from  abroad.  They  were  in  time  to  volunteer  in  the  ad- 
vance upon  and  storming  of  Bexar. 

In  the  meantime  the  Consultation  met  at  San  Felipe  in  Octo- 
ber, elected  Sam  Houston  General-in-Chief  of  the  Texan  army, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  29 


and  created  a  Provisional  Government,  with  Henry  Smith  at 
the  head.  Dissensions  having  arisen  in  the  government,  a  Con- 
vention was  called  to  meet  at  Washington,  with  plenary  powers. 
Independence  was  declared  on  March  2,  1836,  a  Constitution 
adopted,  and  a  government  ad  interim  established,  with  David 
G.  Burnet  as  President.  Meantime  the  Alamo  had  fallen  and 
Goliad  soon  followed;  but  Houston's  victory  at  San  Jacinto  on 
April  21st  practically  decided  the  independence  of  Texas. 
President  Burnet,  then  upon  the  barren  island  of  Galveston, 
visited  Houston's  camp  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  the  cap- 
tured Mexican  dictator,  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna. 

While  Tom  was  going  through  his  rough  campaign  in  Texas 
on  the  flood-tide  of  success,  I  was  struggling  with  financial  diffi- 
culties on  the  ebb-tide  of  failure.  By  the  time  the  little  Texas 
army  had  completed  their  triumph  at  San  Jacinto,  I  had  squared 
up  matters  and  was  busy  making  a  living,  which,  fortunately  for 
me,  I  was  able  to  do  from  my  earliest  boyhood  without  very  great 
hardship. 

Messrs.  Austin.  Wharton,  and  Archer,  commissioners  to  the 
United  States,  came  through  New  Orleans  in  January,  1836, 
but  I  learned  nothing  from  them  as  to  my  brother.  As  the 
summer  advanced  I  began  to  think  of  making  a  trip  to  look 
after  my  soldier  brother,  as  I  could  get  no  reliable  intelligence 
of  him.  I  asked  for  a  leave  of  absence  and  the  firm  gave  me 
thirty  days  without  stopping  my  salary.  So  the  Unseen  Hand 
that  guides  us  in  the  way,  even  when  we  plant  the  steps  just  as 
our  wishes  or  judgment  dictates,  was  leading  me  to  Texas — my 
destiny. 

My  boat,  the  schooner  Colonel  Fannin,  after  a  pleasant  voy- 
age from  New  Orleans,  landed  at  Velasco,  Texas,  about  the  last 
of  October,  1836.  My  main  object  in  visiting  Texas  was  to  find 
my  brother.  As  a  soldier  he  had  participated  in  the  glori- 
ous struggle  that  had  just  closed,  and  when  I  began  to  appre- 
ciate its  aim  and  end,  I  felt  proud  that  I  had  fitted  out  one 
soldier  for  the  Republic  of  Texas  in  the  time  of  need. 

Velasco,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Brazos,  at  its  mouth,  was  at 
this  time  the  chief  port  of  the  Eepublic,  while  Quintana,  on  the 
opposite  side,  was  the  seat  of  an  extensive  foreign  trade.  Ameri- 
can Galveston  had  not  then  been  established.  The  main  busi- 


30  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ness  house  here,  and  perhaps  the  largest  in  the  whole  country, 
was  that  of  McKinney  &  Williams.  With  this  noted  firm  I 
found  brother.  Our  greeting  was  warm,  as  we  had  been  sepa- 
rated a  year  or  more. 

After  sufficient  talk  between  us  on  family  affairs,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  give  me  the  following  account  of  his  adventures  since 
our  parting: 

"About  the  last  of  October,  1835,  we  landed  in  charge  of  Ed 
Hall  at  Velasco,  from  the  schooner  Columbus.  The  Grays  re- 
ceived a  hearty  welcome  from  the  Texans,  and  we  organized  im- 
mediately, electing  Robert  L.  Morris  captain,  W.  G.  Cooke  first 
lieutenant,  and  Charles  B.  Bannister  second  lieutenant.  We 
had  left  the  United  States  as  individuals  to  avoid  a  violation  of 
the  neutrality  laws,  hence  our  organization  out  of  their  juris- 
diction, though  we  all  knew  the  result  before;  in  fact,  it  was 
well  understood  in  New  Orleans.  Dr.  A.  M.  Levy  was  elected 
surgeon  and  Mandred  Wood  commisssary  and  quartermaster. 

"We  then  took  passage  on  the  Laura  up  the  river  to  Brazoria, 
and  thence  marched  overland  more  than  200  miles  to  San  An- 
tonio de  Bexar.  General  Austin  was  then  in  that  vicinity  with 
a  Texan  army.  AYe  reached  his  headquarters  a  little  tired,  but 
in  good  trim  about  .November  21st,  and  reported  ready  for  duty 
the  next  day.  The  Grays  were  the  first  foreign  company  to 
join  the  Texans,  and  our  arrival  in  camp  created  great  enthusi- 
asm. We  were  well  fitted  out  with  arms  and  uniform,  and  looked 
like  real  soldiers.  It  was  not  long  before  we  showed  the  world 
that  we  did  not  belie  our  looks.  General  Austin  left  in  a  few 
days  to  go  as  a  commissioner  to  the  United  States,  and  General 
Burleson  was  chosen  commander  to  fill  Austin's  place. 

"Well,  you  have  heard  about  our  taking  Bexar.  When  Col. 
Ben  Milam  came  into  camp  he  called  for  volunteeers  to  follow 
him  into  Bexar.  The  Grays  were  the  first  to  volunteer,  and 
finally  about  300  came  forward.  We  entered  the  suburbs  of 
Bexar  a  little  before  light  on  December  5th  in  two  columns, 
one  commanded  by  Colonel  Milam  and  the  other  by  Col.  Frank 
Johnson.  Major  Morris,  our  first  captain,  went  with  Colonel 
Milam.  The  Grays,  then  commanded  by  CaptainW.  G.  Cooke, 
fell  in  line  under  Johnson.  We  had  to  fight  our  way  from  house 
to  house.  Milam  was  killed  on  the  second  day.  Major  Morris 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  31 


became  then  second  in  command  under  Colonel  Johnson,  who 
ha<'  been  chosen  leader  in  place  of  Milam.  We  steadily  advanced 
towards  the  plaza,  firing  from  the  housetops,  and  picking  with 
crowbars  and  axes  our  way  through  the  walls  of  the  houses. 
The  Grays  led  the  advance  to  the  plaza,  and  on  the  fourth  night 
we  forced  an  entrance  to  the  priest's  house,  driving  out  the  Mex- 
icans. This  decided  the  fight,  as  the  next  morning  showed  us 
the  plaza  abandoned,  the  enemy  having  retreated  to  the  Alamo 
Mission  across  the  river.  General  Cos,  without  any  more  fight- 
ing, surrendered  his  army  of  about  1100  Mexicans  to  not  more 
than  300  Texans  That  was  a  pretty  good  fight,  wasn't  it?" 

I  could  but  say,  "Yes."  I  felt  prouder  of  Tom  than  ever. 
In  answer  to  my  further  inquiries,  he  continued: 

"The  storming  of  Bexar,  the  most  glorious  feat  of  arms  of 
the  Texan  revolution,  closed  the  campaign  of  1835,  and  no 
armed  Mexican  could  be  found  east  of  the  Kio  Grande.  A 
movement  against  Matamoros  soon  began,  and  the  army  gen- 
erally scattered  out  in  that  direction — some  of  the  Grays  under 
Major  Morris  and  others  under  Captain  Pettis,  with  Colonel 
Fannin.  As  for  myself,  I  remained  with  the  small  garrison  at 
Bexar  till  late  in  January,  1836,  when,  half  sick,  I  turned 
eastward  and  proceeded  afoot  to  the  Brazos  Kiver.  Here  I  fell 
in  with  Capt.  Thomas  W.  Grayson,  who  commanded  the  Yel- 
lowstone steamboat  on  that  river.  (Captain  Grayson  was  a 
family  connection,  and  before  leaving  South  Carolina  had  been 
with  my  father  on  one  of  his  steamboats.)  This  staunch  old 
friend  took  care  of  me  while  sick  and  then  gave  me  employ- 
ment on  his  boat. 

"Before  I  got  fairly  on  my  feet  again  the  terrible  news  reached 
me  of  Santa  Anna's  capture  of  the  Alamo  and  the  destruction 
of  its  brave  defenders  under  Travis,  Bowie,  and  Crockett.  After 
that  in  a  short  time  came  the  news  of  Colonel  Fannin's  surren- 
der. 

"  tannin  was  on  the  retreat  from  Goliad,  as  ordered  by  Hous- 

1  There  is  a  melancholy  interest  which  attaches  to  the  name  of  the 
heroic  but  unfortunate  Fannin. 

From  a  letter  given  me  by  the  executor  of  the  late  Mr.  Deffenbaugh, 
I  give  these  extracts,  which  show  Colonel  Fannin's  exertions  on  behalf 
of  Texan  independence  even  before  the  beginning  of  actual  hostilities, 


32  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ton,  when  he  was  surrounded  by  a  superior  force  of  Mexicans 
under  General  Urrea  and  after  a  desperate  fight  compelled  to 
surrender  his  army  as  prisoners  of  war.  A  week  later,  in  shame- 
ful violation  of  the  terms  of  capitulation,  Urrea  had  shot  all  the 
Texan  prisoners,  more  than  400  in  number.  This  included 
eighteen  of  the  Grays — two  others  of  my  old  company  having 
escaped. 

"When  the  Texas  army  were  encamped  on  the  Colorado,  the 
Yellowstone  went  up  after  cotton.  While  at  Groce's  plantation 
the  Yellowstone  was  pressed  into  service  by  General  Houston 
on  his  arrival  at  that  place,  and  it  fell  upon  us  to  cross  the  Texan 
army  there  to  the  east  side  of  the  Brazos.  Meanwhile  Santa 
Anna,  in  pursuit  of  Houston,  had  occupied  San  Felipe  with  his 
army,  iifteen  or  twenty  miles  below,  and  it  was  suggested  that 
an  attacking  force  on  the  Yellowstone  might  drop  down  the 
river  on  Santa  Anna,  but  nothing  came  of  it. 

"Santa  Anna,  baffled  in  his  attempt  to  cross  the  Brazos  at 
San  Felipe  by  Captain  Baker's  company,  crossed  the  river  with 
a  detachment  of  his  army  a  few  miles  below  and  beat  Houston 

and  also  reveal  the  fact  (never  found  in  our  histories),  that  while  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  Fannin  was  known  as  J.  F.  Walker: 

"  VELASCO,  Rio  Brazos,  Prov.  Texas 

"Aug.  27,  1835. 
"Major Belton,  U.  8.  A.,  Mobile  Point: 

[After  describing  the  political  situation  in  Texas,  Colonel  Fannin 
goes  on  to  say] :  "And  now  conies  the  object  of  this  communication, 
to  wit,  will  you  authorize  me  to  use  your  name  at  the  approaching  Con- 
vention or  at  any  subsequent  time  as  an  officer  qualified  and  willing  to 
command  as  brave  a  set  of  backwoodsmen  as  ever  were  led  to  battle? 

"The  truth  is,  we  are  more  deficient  in  suitable  material  for  officers 
than  we  are  in  toklier*,  and  all  being  Americans,  will  be  willing — nay, 
anxious — to  receive  an  officer  of  reputation.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you 
by  the  vessel  which  will  return  soon,  and  at  any  other  time  as  you  may 
think  advantageous— which  will  be  ronftde.ntinl  or  otherwise,  agreeable 
to  your  request.  'When  the  hurly-burly  is  begun'  we  will  be  glad  to 
see  as  many  West  Point  boys  as  can  be  spared,  many  of  whom  are 
known  to  me,  and  by  whom  lam  known  an  J.  F.  Wnlker — my  maternal 
grandfather's  name,  and  by  whom  I  was  raised  and  adopted,  and  whose 
name  I  then  bore.  .  .  .  My  last  voyage  from  the  island  of  Cuba 
(with  132)  succeeded  admirably. 

"Yr.  friend,  £c., 

".1.  W.  FANNIX,  .In." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  33 


to  Harrisburg.  He  came  near  catching  President  Burnet,  and 
burned  the  town. 

"On  our  way  down  the  Brazos  with  cotton  we  had  trouble 
with  the  Mexican  soldiers.  They  fired  into  the  smokestack  of 
the  Yellowstone,  hoping  thereby  to  cripple  and  capture  the 
boat.  But  this  having  no  effect,  they  next  tried  to  rope  the 
smokestack,  and  failing  in  that  they  proceeded  to  stretch  their 
lariats  across  the  river;  but  all  in  vain.  The  machinery  of  our 
boat  was  well  protected  by  the  cotton  bales,  and  we  sped  on  our 
way  fearlessly,  and  soon  left  all  our  puny  enemies  behind.  The 
Yellowstone  was  a  high  pressure  boat,  'built  for  the  upper  Mis- 
souri and  Yellowstone — hence  her  name.  She  had  a  good  capac- 
ity for  freight  and  passengers,  and  plied  the  Brazos  regularly 
Irom  Quintana  as  far  up  as  navigable. 

"We  ran  into  Galveston  Bay  about  the  24th  of  April,  and 
found  President  Burnet  camping  on  Galveston  Island.  The  next 
day  Captain  Calder  brought  in  the  glorious  news  of  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto.  The  Yellowstone,  with  President  Burnet  and 
part  of  his  cabinet  on  board,  then  steamed  up  to  the  battlefield. 
I  always  regretted  that  we  were  too  late  for  the  great  battle." 

Taking  up  again  the  thread  of  my  narrative,  I  will  say  that 
to  pay  expenses  on  this  trip  I  had  brought  with  me  a  stock 
of  merchandise,  principally  provisions,  which  I  thought  would 
be  in  demand.  Besides,  as  I  remembered  that  the  country  was 
in  a  state  of  war,  I  equipped  myself  with  a  good  gun,  a  brace  of 
pistols,  and  a  bountiful  supply  of  ammunition,  so  as  to  be  ready 
to  render  any  service  that  occasion  might  require. 

The  short  period  of  my  stay  at  this  town  (Velasco)  was  filled 
with  events  exciting  and  strange  to  me.  On  the  very  first  day 
a  schooner  with  quite  a  number  of  passengers  and  a  full  cargo 
was  wrecked  upon  the  bar.  It  was  said  then  that  the  Velasco 
bar  was  a  hard  sand  bar,  and  when  a  vessel  struck  upon  it  she 
seldom  escaped  destruction.  The  people  of  the  town  gave  every 
possible  assistance  with  small  boats;  no  lives  were  lost,  and  most 
of  the  cargo  was  saved. 

My  first  night  was  spent  in  the  hotel  kept  by  J.  M.  Shreve,  a 

Kentuckian  (subsequently  he  was  chief  clerk  of  the  House  of 

Representatives  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  and  I  an  assistant). 

His  partner  in  the  hotel  proved  to  be  Benjamin  S.  Grayson,  of 

3 


34  l.UJi  ROCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


my  native  town,  Beaufort.  He  was  a  brother  of  Capt.  Thos.  W. 
Grayson.  We  had  not  seen  each  other  since  our  boyhood,  and 
our  pleasure  was  mutual  upon  meeting  after  so  long  a  time  in 
such  a  far  away  country. 

After  taking  tea,  Walter  C.  White  and  R.  J.  Clow,  known 
to  old  Texans  as  Bob  Clow,  both  of  them  prominent  merchants 
and  recognized  as  first-class  gentlemen,  together  with  Mr.  Shreve, 
proposed  that  we  should  have  a  social  evening  in  playing  twenty- 
deck  poker.  I  told  them  I  had  never  seen  the  game  played  and 
knew  nothing  of  it;  that  I  really  had  never  heard  of  such  a 
game.  They  explained  it,  assuring  me  that  the  game  was  very 
simple  and  interesting;  only  twenty  of  the  deck  was  used,  and 
that  if  I  knew  the  cards  I  would,  in  playing  a  few  hands,  become 
familiar  with  it;  that  the  ante  was  very  small,  and  they  did  not 
bet  very  high.  I  said,  "Well,  I  have  come  to  be  a  Texan,  and  I 
suppose  I  must  be  taught  all  the  Texas  ways,  and  the  sooner  I 
begin  the  better."  The  game  was  commenced  at  once.  Very 
soon  the  plays  were  familiar,  and  occasionally  Clow,  who,  by  the 
way,  was  a  fine  conversationalist  and  a  noted  humorist,  would  re- 
mark, "Lubbock,  you  play  the  game  remarkably  well  for  the 
first  time."  "Lubbock,  did  I  understand  you  to  say  that  you 
never  saw  poker  played  before?"  All  of  which  I  took  in  good 
part,  playing  with  great  earnestness,  and  as  I  supposed  very  care- 
fully. About  midnight  it  was  proposed,  very  much  to  my  de- 
light, that  we  would  settle  up  and  quit.  My  account  was  short 
some  twenty  dollars,  which  was  immediately  paid.  Clow  then 
said  to  me:  "Lubbock,  I  like  you;  I  have  really  taken  a  fancy 
to  you,  and  I  will  volunteer  a  piece  of  advice — never  play  poker." 
"Why,"  said  I,  "you  have  told  me  several  times  during  the  even- 
ing that  I  played  remarkably  well  and  appeared  to  understand 
the  game  fully,  and  really,  Mr.  Clow,  I  like  the  game.  It  is 
amusing,  interesting,  exciting,  and  while  I  could  not  afford  to 
lose  twenty  dollars  an  evening,  probably  I  would  win  next  time." 

"I  say,  Lubbock,  don't  you  play  poker."  "Well,  Mr.  Clow,  why 
not?  It  seems  to  be  fashionable  with  you  merchants."  "Well,  I 
will  tell  you;  you  haven't  a  poker  countenance."  "What  is  that?" 
said  I.  "Well,  when  you  have  a  good  winning  hand,  it  is  dis- 
•closed  by  your  countenance.  The  consequence  is  that  no  one 
will  bet  against  you;  you  are  permitted  to  take  the  pot  and  win 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  35 


but  little.  Should  you  have  a  poor  hand,  your  tell-tale  counten- 
ance again  displays  your  poverty  in  the  hand,  and  should  you 
attempt  to  bluff,  you  are  simply  called,  your  hand  beaten,  and  so 
you  win  nothing.  Take  my  advice,  my  dear  boy,  and  play  no 
more  poker."  From  that  day  to  this  present  hour  I  have  never 
played  a  game  of  poker  for  money,  although  I  have  seen  thou- 
sands won  and  lost  at  it  by  others;  for,  unfortunately,  Texas 
gentlemen  do  like  poker.  It's  a  blessed  thing  to  give  good  ad- 
vice. Peace  to  your  ashes,  Bob  Clow! 

Apropos  to  the  item  of  poker  playing  in  Texas  is  the  famous 
baccarat  scandal  trial  in  London  that  fills  the  papers  this  morn- 
ing, June  2, 1891,  the  same  date  of  writing  the  above  about  cards 
in  Texas  fifty-five  years  ago.  In  the  present  case  the  court  of 
the  greatest  nation  in  Europe,  in  the  greatest  city  on  earth,  is 
investigating  cheating  in  a  social  game  between  lords  and  ladies 
and  the  heir  apparent  of  the  realm.  We  are  cultivated  above 
that  point.  The  heir  apparent  to  our  executive  honors  has  to  be 
better  employed  if  he  expects  to  be  crowned,  and  if  our  ladies 
do  indulge  in  a  social  game,  they  do  not  gamble.  Would  it  not 
be  as  well,  however,  to  look  on  that  picture  in  London  high  life, 
and  introduce  some  other  amusement  more  elevating  than  card 
playing. 

A  day  or  two  after  my  arrival  in  Velasco,  while  in  a  billiard 
room,  I  witnessed  a  homicide.  Captain  Snell,  commanding  a 
company  of  regulars  at  the  post,  came  in.  He  accosted  Lieu- 
tenant Sproul  as  to  his  absence  from  the  post.  Hot  words  en- 
sued, and  the  lieutenant  was  shot  down  by  his  captain  and 
killed.  Snell  was  exonerated,  as  Sproul  probably  attempted 
to  draw  his  sword.  He  afterward  had  several  unfortunate  diffi- 
culties, and  was  himself  many  years  afterward  killed  in  Hemp- 
stead.  He  was  a  member  of  my  brother  Tom  Lubbock's  com- 
pany, the  New  Orleans  Grays,  and  proved  himself  a  brave  sol- 
dier. 

The  government  of  the  Republic  had  been  organized  at  Co- 
lumbia on  the  Brazos,  and  on  October  23,  1836,  Gen.  Sam  Hous- 
ton, the  hero  of  San  Jacinto,  was  inaugurated  as  the  first  con- 
stitutional president.  Thus  the  Brazos  valley  held  the  govern- 
mental honors  and  advantages,  while  the  country  eastward  and 
westward  boasted  of  the  battlefields  of  the  Eevolution. 


38  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Congress  was  then  in  session,  and  I  hastened  with  my  goods  up 
the  river  by  steamboat  to  the  capital,  bearing  the  same  honored 
name  as  the  capital  of  my  native  South  Carolina.  Leaving  the 
river  at  Bell's  Landing,  where  we  were  all  put  ashore,  I  found  the 
town  of  Columbia  about  two  miles  westward  on  the  edge  of  a 
prairie  dotted  with  live  oaks.  The  Congress  was  occupying  two 
frame  houses — the  larger  one,  with  partition  removed,  for  the 
Eepresentative  chamber,  and  the  smaller  one  for  the  Senate 
(then  having  only  fourteen  members),  the  shed  rooms  being 
used  for  committees. 

The  circumstances  were  favorable,  the  little  town  being  filled 
with  people,  so  very  promptly  my  goods  were  all  sold  at  a  fine 
profit,  leaving  me  a  few  days  to  look  about  me.  All  the  while 
no  shelter  could  be  obtained.  I  took  my  meals  with  Fitchett  & 
Gill,  the  tavern-keepers,  sleeping  under  a  liveoak  tree  at  night. 
This  was  the  lodging  place  of  many. 

The  town  presented  a  wild  and  romantic  appearance  to  me, 
just  landed  from  New  Orleans,  a  large  and  gay  city.  There  was 
something  in  it  new  and  attractive,  the  fine  old  liveoaks,  other 
majestic  trees  of  the  forest,  the  woods  near  the  town  filled  with 
bear,  Mexican  lions,  deer,  turkey,  and  game  of  every  kind. 

It  made  my  thoughts  fly  quick  and  fast  when  my  mind  took 
in  the  facts:  This  is  the  capital  of  a  republic,  with  the  heads  of 
departments,  the  Congress  in  session,  and  hosts  of  people  in  the 
town — President,  judges,  representatives,  senators,  captains,  col- 
onels, generals,  men  of  mark,  men  that  would  attract  attention 
and  respect  in  any  country.  Of  great  intelligence,  pluck,  and 
patriotism,  they  came  here  to  seek  homes  for  themselves  in  a 
wilderness.  They  determined  to  stay;  they  were  not  to  be  turned 
back  by  the  hardships  of  a  frontier  life,  the  fear  of  the  savage 
Indians,  or  the  dread  of  Mexican  invasion.  They  surmounted 
every  difficulty  in  their  path.  They  fought  the  fight  with  the 
redman  of  the  prairie,  and  raising  the  Lone  Star  flag  confronted 
the  Napoleon  of  the  West,  wresting  from  his  tyranny  the  grand- 
est territory  of  this  continent. 

Here  were  Sam  Houston,  M.  B.  Lamar,  Henry  Smith,  S.  F. 
Austin,  James  Collinsworth,  E.  M.  Pease,  W.  II.  Jack,  P.  C.  Jack, 
W.  H.  Wharton,  John  A.  Wharton,  Anson  Jones,  Edward  Bur- 


LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS.  37 


leson,  Mosely  Baker,  David  G.  Burnet,  Stephen  H.  Everett,  Jesse 
Grimes,  Sterling  C.  Eobertson,  A.  C.  Horton,  Alexander  Souier- 
vell,  Richard  Ellis,  James  S.  Lester,  Richard  Scurry,  Thos. 
J.  Rusk,  John  W.  Bunton,  Jesse  Billingsley,  Ira  Ingraham,  Al- 
bert Sidney  Johnston,  and  others.  These  men  were  unlike  in 
character,  and  differing  with  each  other  about  measures,  even  be- 
fore the  smoke  of  the  great  conflict  had  cleared  away;  and  being 
men  of  strong  wills,  their  differences  often  had  the  characteris- 
tics of  downright  animosities.  A  great  deal  was  told  about  how 
they  disagreed,  and  how  this  one  and  that  one  "went  it  independ- 
ent," even  at  the  time  the  little  Texas  army  of  eight  hundred 
men  confronted  the  Mexicans  under  their  famous  leader  Santa 
Anna.  All  the  same  they  whipped  the  fight.  "Remember  the 
Alamo!"  "Remember  Goliad!"  stirred  every  heart  and  nerved 
every  arm.  The  absorbing  idea  was  victory.  Victory  was  theirs. 
All  honor  to  the  patriot  warriors  of  1836! 

San  Jacinto  won,  an  arduous  task  was  before  them,  and  these 
men  in  the  first  Congress  addressed  themselves  with  great  ability 
and  enthusiasm  to  the  task  of  solving  the  problem  presented  to 
their  consideration.  A  government  was  to  be  reared  amid  dif- 
ficulties on  all  sides.  As  yet  they  were  not  recognized  among  the 
nations  of  the  earth.  They  had  no  revenue  and  no  credit;  the 
Mexicans  were  still  their  enemies;  the  Indians  were  within  their 
borders;  the  little  army  was  unpaid,  poorly  fed,  and  in  need  of 
clothing,  and  impatient  at  inactivity.  Some  argued  that  they 
should  make  a  forward  move  against  Mexico,  while  others,  Presi- 
dent Houston  of  that  number,  believed  in  resting  on  the  victory 
already  gained. 

There  were  dissensions  about  Santa  Anna,  who  was  under  a 
guard  of  twenty  men  about  twelve  miles  from  the  capital.  "What 
was  to  be  done  with  him  was  a  great  question,  until  Sam  Hous- 
ton cut  the  Gordian  knot  about  this  time.  Some  of  the  cabinet 
and  many  of  the  officers  of  the  army  believed  that  he  had  for- 
feited his  life  by  the  outrages  perpetrated  at  the  Alamo  and  at 
Goliad.  Others,  with  President  Houston  as  their  leader,  in- 
sisted that  he  should  be  treated  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  President 
Houston  commissioned  three  well  known  brave  and  true  men, 
his  own  selection — Col.  B.  E.  Bee,  Colonel  Patton,  and  G.  W. 


426371 


88 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Hockley — who  in  a  quiet  manner  accompanied  him  overland  to 
the  Mississippi,  thence  up  the  river  and  across  the  country  to 
Washington  City,  D.  C. 

Stephen  F.  Austin,  then  Secretary  of  State,  the  leader  of  the 
colony  that  had  taken  possession  of  this  beautiful  Brazos  coun- 
try lay  dying  at  Geo.  B.  McKinstry's,  in  the  town.  He  had  toiled 


STEPHEN  F.  AUSTIN. 


long  and  well  for  his  people,  and  just  as  they  had  begun  to  taste 
the  cup  of  happiness,  they  must  lose  his  counsel  in  the  State. 

Then  in  the  army  who  should  and  who  should  not  be  com- 
mander-in-chief,  now  that  Houston  was  elected  President,  was 
another  very  much  discussed  question.  Busk  was  left  in  charge 
at  first  after  Houston.  When  he  wished  to  resign,  Lamar  was 
appointed  to  take  the  place,  but  declined  on  account  of  opposi- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  soldiers,  and  Rusk  remained  in  command. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  39 


Afterward  Felix  Huston  was  commander-in-chief  for  a  time, 
when  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  came  on  the  scene  and  was  ap- 
pointed to  take  command.  Then  followed  that  remarkable  his- 
torical duel  that  left  Johnston  a  badly  crippled  up  man  for  some 
time.2 

On  many  points  there  was  great  divergence  of  opinion;  but 
bound  together  by  a  common  interest,  having  the  same  hopes 
and  the  same  fears,  when  the  public  good  called  them  to  duty 
the  grand  men  of  the  early  days  of  Texas  were  never  found 
wanting.  In  no  other  way  could  the  glorious  new-born  Repub- 
lic have  grown  in  strength  and  dignity  amid  the  perils  that  beset 
her  from  first  to  last.  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  some  of  these 
men  then,  and  a  few  months  later  most  of  them  became  my 
friends. 

The  strong,  massive  characters  of  the  people,  and  the  apparent 
grandness  of  the  country,  impressed  me  greatly.  So  thoroughly 
was  I  persuaded  of  the  bright  prospect  ahead  for  those  who 
would  settle  promptly,  that  I  at  once  made  up  my  mind  that  if 
my  young  city  wife  would  give  up  New  Orleans  and  follow  me, 
Texas  would  be  our  home. 

My  stay  in  Texas  was  short,  but  I  had  found  my  country. 
Judge  Ben  C.  Franklin  had  already  administered  to  me  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  the  young  Republic;  and  as  I  was  eager  to  begin 
lift-  as  a  Texan,  I  hastened  back  to  my  wife  to  jointly  perfect  our 
plans. 

I  took  passage  for  New  Orleans  on  the  schooner  Julius  Caesar, 
arriving  at  that  port  on  November  28th,  after  a  little  more  than 
a  month's  absence.  One  of  my  fellow  passengers,  whose  ac- 

8 ' '  WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
"COLUMBIA,  February  7,  1837. 
"Dr.  A.  Ewing,  Surgeon  General: 

"SiR— I  am  requested  to  instruct  you  to  repair  forthwith  to  the 
headquarters  of  the  army,  there  to  consult  with  the  faculty  on  the  case 
of  Gen.  A.  Sidney  Johnston,  who  has  been  badly  wounded  by  a  pistol 
shot. 

"You  will  report  while  at  the  army  the  names  of  all  surgeons  em- 
ployed there;  also  a  minute  account  of  the  situation  of  the  medical  de- 
partment, so  that  all  deficiencies  may  be  remedied. 

" WILLIAM  S.  FISHER, 

"Secretary  of  War. " 


40  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


quaintance  I  then  made,  was  the  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Wharton,8  min- 
ister to  the  United  States,  en  route  for  Washington.  With  him 
was  his  son,  John  A.,  then  a  bright  ten-year-old  lad.  A  quarter 
of  a  century  afterwards  or  more  I  will  have  occasion  in  my  nar- 
rative to  notice  the  grown-up  boy. 


•Wharlon's  instructions,  made  out  by  the  first  Texan  Secretary  of 
State,  Stephen  F.  Austin,  emphasized  two  vital  points:  1.  The  recog- 
nition of  the  independence  of  Texas.  2.  The  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  United  States.  Recognition  was  to  be  pressed  first.  The  Congress 
had  not  then  taken  any  action  on  our  western  boundary.  Austin,  in 
his  instructions,  named  the  Rio  Grande,  but  if  that  hindered  recogni- 
tion, Texas  would  recede  to  a  point  on  the  gulf  half  way  between  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  and  Corpus  Christi  Bay,  and  thence  on  the 
dividing  ridge  between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande  north  to  the  Pecos 
fifty  miles  above  its  confluence  with  the  Rio  Grande,  and  up  the  Pecos 
to  its  main  source,  and  thence  due  north  to  the  forty-second  parallel. 

Minister  Wharton,  under  date  of  New  Orleans,  December  2d,  thus 
writes  the  Secretary  of  State:  "I  believe  I  told  you  at  Washington 
that  after  my  protest  to  General  Jackson  against  the  sale  of  Texas  by 
Mexico,  which  was  at  first  supposed  to  be  the  business  of  Gorostiza  (the 
Mexican  Minister  at  Washington),  I  had  a  long  and  as  I  conceived  demi- 
official  conversation  with  Donelson  (the  President's  private  secretary), 
in  which  he  stated  that  if  the  United  States  chose  to  give  Mexico  a  few 
millions  for  a  quitclaim  of  Texas  by  way  of  hush  money,  leaving  to 
Texas  the  arrangement  of  the  terms  of  annexation,  that  Texas  ought 
not  through  pride  object  to  it.  I  answered  him  then,  as  I  will  again 
unless  otherwise  instructed,  that  the  treaty  between  Texas  and  the 
United  States  must  precede  the  hush  money  to  Mexico;  that  after  Texas 
was  annexed  the  United  States  might  give  what  she  pleased,  and  that 
Texas  for  her  part  would  nover  give  Mexico  anything  but  lead  in  pur- 
chase of  peace  and  independence." — ED. 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  41 


CHAPTER  THREE. 

Removal  to  Texas — Settlement  in  the  New  Town  of  Houston — Opening 
of  Congress — The  Telegraph  Newspaper — Indian  Pow-wows — Vari- 
ous Incidents — San  Jacinto  Ball  at  the  Capitol — Celebration  at  Lib- 
erty— Lost  and  Benighted  on  the  Prairie — First  Purchase  of  Wild 
Land — Assistant  Clerkship  in  the  House  of  Representatives — Join- 
ing the  Masons — Currency  Meeting — Appointed  Comptroller  by 
President  Houston — The  Philosophical  Society. 

It  was  not  long  before  my  Creole  wife  decided  with  me  for 
Texas.  A  few  days  before  Christmas  we  accordingly  embarked 
on  the  schooner  Corolla,  bound  for  Quintana,  which  port  we 
reached  in  good  time  after  a  stormy  voyage. 

There  were  twenty-five  or  thirty  passengers,  including  John 
W.  Dancy,  afterwards  a  prominent  figure  in  Texas  politics.  He 
made  his  appearance  on  the  schooner  booted  and  spurred.  After 
passing  out  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  the  swell  of  the  open 
sea,  though  not  rough,  made  Dancy  deathly  sick,  and  he  lay  about 
the  cabin  and  on  the  deck  covered  with  freight,  mostly  barrels, 
in  perfect  abandon.  The  sailors  passing  fore  and  aft  on  duty 
were  compelled  to  step  over  him  so  frequently  that  one  of  them 
became  fretted  and  said  to  him,  "Get  out  of  the  way,  or  I'll 
throw  you  overboard,"  to  which  Dancy  only  replied,  "I  wish  you 
would."  He  doubtless  felt  it  would  be  a  relief,  for  he  was  so 
sick  that  he  never  took  off  his  spurs.  As  he  had  come  aboard 
booted  and  spurred,  so  he  landed  at  Quintana,  ready  to  mount 
a  pony  for  the  interior. 

As  on  my  first  entrance  into  Texas,  I  brought  with  me  for 
sale  a  stock  of  goods,  staple  groceries,  flour,  sugar,  coffee,  bacon, 
and  other  things.  I  hastened  matters,  for  the  reason  that  on 
the  first  of  January,  1837,  the  duties  were  to  be  increased  on  all 
importations  into  Texas.  Others,  of  course,  were  moved  by  the 
same  cause,  and  there  was  great  activity  in  this  business.  I  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  a  vessel  promptly,  and  entered  the  Brazos 
among  the  foremost. 

Our  vessel  had  scarcely  been  made  fast  upon  our  arrival  at 
Velasco  before  an  officer,  who  proved  to  be  Maj.  Isaac  N".  More- 
land,  the  commandant  of  the  post,  came  on  board.  He  desired 


42  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  know  what  cargo  there  was  on  the  schooner.  Learning  from 
the  captain  that  there  were  one  hundred  barrels  of  flour  on 
board,  he  at  once  said,  "I  must  have  it  for  the  army.  To  whom  i's 
it  consigned  ?"  The  captain  informed  him  that  the  owner  was  on 
the  vessel,  called  me,  and  introduced  me  as  the  owner  of  the 
flour.  Major  Moreland  then  said,  "The  troops  are  suffering,  and 
I  must  have  the  flour  on  government  account.  What  is  the 
price?"  I  told  him  that  the  flour  had  cost  very  high  in  conse- 
quence of  the  upper  rivers  being  closed  with  ice  when  I  pur- 
chased, and  to  make  anything  I  must  have  $18  per  barrel  in  gold. 
He  assented  to  the  price,  but  remarked,  "You  will  have  to  take 
government  receipts."  I  then  explained  my  condition,  that  it 
would  ruin  me  financially  if  I  did  not  receive  the  money  for  the 
flour;  that  it  was  purchased  on  very  short  time,  and  I  would  not 
be  able  to  meet  the  obligation.  I  then  said:  "There  will  be 
several  vessels  arriving  in  a  few  days,  all  with  flour  on  board.  I 
will  give  you  ten  barrels  of  my  flour.  That  will  run  you  until 
other  arrivals,  when  you  can  draw  additional  supplies  from  them, 
making  it  equal  on  us  all.  We  compromised  on  that.  I  turned 
over  to  him  ten  barrels  at  $30  per  barrel,  taking  government 
certificates.  These  were  paid  to  me  some  fifteen  years  afterward, 
upon  the  sale  of  the  Santa  Fe  territory  to  the  United  States. 
Thus  one  part  of  my  merchandise  was  put  out  on  long  time 
without  any  interest,  at  the  period  when  I  needed  it  most;  but 
that  was  in  common  with  many  other  citizens,  and  we  all  sub- 
mitted cheerfully.  Besides  this,  another  circumstance  affected 
my  mercantile  prospects.  Congress,  before  adjourning,  had  ex- 
tended the  time  for  the  importation  of  goods  under  the  tariff 
already  existing.  The  result  of  this  was  to  glut  the  market, 
particularly  with  the  necessaries  of  life.  Thus  I  did  not  sell 
out  so  rapidly.  Probably  this  was  the  means  of  moving  me  from 
the  Brazos  to  a  new  place  and  changing  my  whole  life,  as  I  did 
not  make  such  a  financial  success  in  mcchandising  as  to  fasten 
me  to  it. 

A  few  days  after  landing,  the  schooner  Mexicana  was  captured 
by  the  Texas  privateer  Tom  Toby.  She  fortunately  had  quite  a 
large  lot  of  Mexican  sack  flour,  as  well  as  other  valuable  army 
supplies  on  board.  She  was  taken  in  charge  by  Capt.  R.  J.  Cal- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  43 


der,  the  sheriff  at  that  time  of  a  large  adjacent  territory.  He 
employed  me  to  assist  him  in  the  sale  of  the  captured  cargo. 

This  was  my  first  labor  for  the  government  of  Texas,  soon 
after  I  had  come  to  make  my  home  in  Texas,  in  December,  1836. 

Velasco  was  then  the  prospective  seaport  and  commercial  em- 
porium of  the  young  republic  that  was  cradled  in  the  rich  valley 
of  the  Brazos,  and  now  again  after  half  a  century  she  lifts  her 
head  with  buoyant  hope  of  success. 

This  work  at  Velasco  accomplished,  to  make  my  wife  com- 
fortable, we  went  up  to  Brazoria  and  boarded  with  Mrs.  Jane 
Long,  the  widow  of  Gen.  Jas.  Long.  He  invaded  Texas  with 
about  300  men,  taking  Nacogdoches  in  1819,  but  after  a  series 
of  misfortunes  was  captured  at  Goliad  in  1821  and  taken  off  to 
Mexico.  His  faithful  wife,  left  at  Bolivar  Point,  near  Galveston 
Island,  and  deserted  by  all  but  a  servant  girl,  remained  at  her 
post  during  the  succeeding  winter,  vainly  expecting  the  return 
of  General  Long,  who  was  murdered  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  To 
keep  off  the  Karanchua  Indians,  Mrs.  Long  herself  frequently 
fired  off  the  cannon  at  the  fort.  She  was  rescued  the  next  year 
by  some  of  Austin's  colonists.  Mrs.  Long's  career  had  in  it  a 
touch  of  romance  very  rare  even  in  the  Southwest.  She  was  a 
sensible,  strong-minded  woman,  and  she  highly  entertained  us 
with  the  recital  of  her  thrilling  adventures. 

We  made  some  distinguished  acquaintances  at  Mrs.  Long's — 
among  others,  Judge  Ben  C.  Franklin  and  General  Lamar,  then 
Vice-President  of  the  Eepublic,  in  the  prime  of  life  and  the  halo 
of  his  glory  won  at  San  Jacinto.  He  was  a  man  of  the  French 
type,  five  feet  seven  or  eight  inches  high,  with  dark  complexion, 
black,  long  hair,  inclined  to  curl,  and  gray  eyes.  Lamar  was 
peculiar  in  his  dress;  wore  his  clothes  very  loose,  his  pants  being 
of  that  old  style,  very  baggy,  and  with  large  pleats,  looking  odd, 
as  he  was  the  only  person  I  ever  saw  in  Texas  in  that  style  of 
dress.  I  found  the  Vice-President  rather  reserved  in  conversa- 
tion; it  was  said,  however,  that  he  was  quite  companionable  with 
his  intimate  friends.  He  had  proved  his  soldiership  at  San  Ja- 
cinto— he  was  now  trying  the  role  of  statesman.  One  of  the 
guests  at  Mrs.  Long's  was  telling  a  fishy  story,  with  extra  embel- 
lishments, when  Lamar  dryly  remarked:  "I  have  known  men 


44  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  add  a  little  fiction  to  their  stories  to  make  them  interesting, 
but  this  fellow  lies  without  metes,  bounds,  or  landmarks."  4 

Judge  Franklin,  also  a  soldier  of  San  Jacinto,  as  I  under- 
stand, presided  over  the  first  court  held  under  the  judicial  sys- 
tem of  American  Texas.  Judge  Franklin  was  about  six  feet 
high,  well  proportioned,  with  fair  complexion  and  dark  hair, 
a  good  lawyer,  affable  and  courteous  in  manners. 

Shortly  after  this,  coming  from  Quintana  to  Brazoria  on 
horseback,  I  was  belated,  got  lost,  and  had  to  spend  the  night  in 
the  Brazos  bottom.  The  darkness  was  made  hideous  by  the  yelp- 
ing of  wolves,  the  cries  of  the  Mexican  panther,  and  the  never 
ending  hum  of  mosquitos.  Being  green  from  the  States,  I  almost 
despaired  of  life,  while  anxiously  waiting  the  issue.  The  wel- 
come morning  brought  me  deliverance,  but  on  my  arrival  at  the 
boarding  house  my  face  appeared  so  disfigured  by  mosquito  bites 
that  my  wife  scarcely  recognized  me.  This  horrible  night's  ex- 
perience in  the  Brazos  bottom  six  decades  ago  is  still  distinct 
in  my  memory. 

About  the  last  of  December,  1836,  I  met  the  brothers  A.  C. 

*"  Through  the  period  of  a  long  life  the  ex-Vice  President,  Governor 
Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  has  been  the  unswerving  and  consistent  friend  of 
liberal  principles  and  free  government.  Among  the  first  movers  of  the 
Revolution  in  his  native  country,  he  has  never  departed  from  the  pure 
and  sound  principles  upon  which  it  was  originally  founded.  This  steady 
and  unyielding  devotion  to  the  holy  cause  of  liberty  has  been  amply  re- 
warded by  the  high  confidence  of  the  virtuous  portion  of  two  republics. 
The  gentleman,  the  scholar,  and  the  patriot,  he  goes  into  retirement 
with  the  undivided  affections  of  his  fellow  citizens;  and  I  know,  gentle- 
men, that  I  only  express  your  own  feelings  when  I  say  that  it  is  the 
wish  of  every  member  of  this  assembly  that  the  evening  of  his  days  may 
be  as  tranquil  and  happy  as  the  meridian  of  his  life  has  been  useful  and 
honorable." — Extracts  from  Lamar's  inaugural  address. 

He  had  poetica.  and  literary  taste,  and  if  he  wished  to  say  a  thing 
he  could  do  it  admirably  well. 

Just  before  this  time,  November  15,  1856,  his  predecessor  in  office, 
Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  passed  away  at  his  home  on  Buffalo  Bayou,  near 
Lynchburg.  I  regret  that  I  had  not  the  opportunity  of  knowing  this 
great  and  good  man.  Subsequently  I  became  well  acquainted  with  and 
frequently  visited  his  elegant  family  at  their  old  homestead.  His  death 
occurred  in  less  than  one  month  after  Vice  President  Lamar's  compli- 
mentary remarks. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  45 


and  J.  K.  Allen,  whose  acquaintance  I  had  made  before  at  Co- 
lumbia. These  thorough-going  business  men  had  tried  to  pur- 
chase the  site  of  old  Harrisburg  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a 
town,  but  failing  in  this  they  bought  the  Parott  league,  a  few 
miles  above,  on  Buffalo  Bayou.  On  this  league,  at  the  head  of 
navigation,  they  had  laid  out  the  new  town  of  Houston,  named  in 
honor  of  the  President  of  the  Republic.  By  their  enterprise  and 
influence  they  had  succeeded  in  getting  the  seat  of  government 
removed  to  that  place,  to  remain  until  1840. 

These  brothers  (A.  C.  and  J.  K.)  had  been  in  Texas  three  or 
four  years,  and  three  other  brothers  arrived  in  Houston  soon 
after  its  location — all  of  them  good  and  prominent  citizens. 

J.  K.  Allen  was  a  very  bright,  quick  man,  with  much  magic 
about  him,  and  well  calculated  to  enthuse  the  young.  A.  C.  was 
more  taciturn  and  settled;  he  was  a  married  man,  with  his  fam- 
ily then  in  Nacogdoches.  The  former  died  very  soon  after  locat- 
ing the  place;  the  latter  lived  many  years  thereafter. 

The  Aliens  encouraged  me  to  go  with  them,  taking  the  goods 
still  on  hand  to  open  a  house  in  the  town  of  Houston.  We  took 
a  small  steamer  called  the  Laura,  owned  by  McKinney  &  Wil- 
liams. It  was  commanded  by  Captain  West,  a  boy  chum  of  mine, 
and  son  of  Dr.  West,  of  Beaufort,  S.  C.  Among  her  passengers 
were  J.  K.  Allen,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  new  town,  Gen. 
Mcsely  Baker,  and  Judge  Benjamin  C.  Franklin,  both  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  this  section,  the  former  the  captain  of  a  com- 
pany at  San  Jacinto.  We  made  a  safe  run  into  Galveston  Bay, 
where  we  lay  aground  several  days,  and  thence  up  the  bay  and 
Buffalo  Bayou,  arriving  at  Harrisburg  without  difficulty.  The 
navigation  after  entering  the  bayou  was  good,  with  plenty  of 
water  and  breadth,  until  we  reached  this  place. 

Here  we  were  cordially  welcomed  by  the  people  of  the  village, 
among  them  the  Birdsalls,  Wilsons,  Eichardsons,  and  Harrises. 
The  town  was  called  Harrisburg,  as  was  also  the  county,  after  the 
last  named  family.  Subsequently  the  name  of  the  county  was 
changed  to  Harris  by  law.  My  friend,  Mrs.  Andrew  Briscoe,  now 
living  in  Houston,  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John  E.  Harris  of  this 
place.  She  is  now  the  widow  of  Capt.  Andrew  Briscoe,  who  com- 
manded a  company  of  regulars  at  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  He 
was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Sub- 


46  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


sequcntly  I  had  the  pleasure  of  having  him  for  a  friend  and 
neighbor  for  many  years.  No  boat  had  ever  been  above  this 
place,  and  we  were  three  days  making  the  distance  to  Houston, 
only  six  miles  by  the  dirt  road,  but  twelve  by  the  bayou.  The 
slow  time  was  in  consequence  of  the  obstructions  we  were  com- 
pelled to  remove  as  we  progressed.  We  had  to  rig  what  were 
called  Spanish  windlasses  on  the  shore  to  heave  the  logs  and 
snags  out  of  our  way,  the  passengers  all  working  faithfully.  All 
hands  on  board  would  get  out  on  the  shore,  and  cutting  down  a 
tree  would  make  of  it  a  windlass  by  boring  holes  in  it  and  placing 
it  upon  a  support  and  throwing  a  bight  of  rope  around  it,  secure 
one  end  to  a  tree  in  the  rear  and  the  other  to  the  snags  or  fallen 
trees  in  the  water.  Then  by  means  of  the  capstan  bars  we  would 
turn  the  improvised  capstan  on  land,  and  draw  from  the  track 
of  our  steamer  the  obstructions.  Capitalist,  dignified  judge,  mili- 
tary heroes,  young  merchant  in  fine  clothes  from  the  dressiest 
city  in  the  United  States,  all  lent  a  helping  hand.  It  being 
necessary  to  lie  by  at  night,  in  the  evenings  we  had  a  good  time 
dancing  and  frolicking  with  the  settlers  on  the  shore,  who  were 
delighted  to  see  "newcomers  from  the  States." 

Just  before  reaching  our  destination  a  party  of  us,  becoming 
weary  of  the  steamer,  took  a  yawl  and  concluded  we  would  hunt 
for  the  city.  So  little  evidence  could  we  see  of  a  landing  that 
we  passed  by  the  site  and  run  into  White  Oak  Bayou,  only  realiz- 
ing that  we  must  have  passed  the  city  when  we  struck  in  the 
brush.  We  then  backed  down  the  bayou,  and  by  close  observation 
discovered  a  road  or  street  laid  off  from  the  water's  edge.  Upon 
landing  we  found  stakes  and  footprints,  indicating  that  we  were 
in  the  town  tract. 

This  was  about  the  first  of  January,  1837,  when  I  discovered 
Houston.  For  though  I  did  not  accompany  Columbus  when  he 
discovered  America,  as  is  asserted,  I  certainly  was  in  at  the  dis- 
covery of  Houston,  the  Laura  being  the  first  steamer  that  ever 
reached  her  landing.  Wharves  were  not  in  Texas. 

A  few  tents  were  located  not  far  away;  one  large  one  was  used 
as  a  saloon.  Several  small  houses  were  in  the  course  of  erec- 
tion. Logs  were  being  hauled  in  from  the  forest  for  a  hotel  to 
be  erected  (where  the  Hutchins  House  now  stands)  by  Col.  Ben- 
jamin Fort  Smith,  who  was  the  inspector-general  at  the  battle 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  47 


of  San  Jacinto.  A  small  number  of  workmen  were  preparing 
to  build  cabins,  business  houses,  and  this  hotel.  We  boarded  on 
the  steamer  for  several  days,  and  in  the  meantime  hastened  busi- 
ness upon  the  shore. 

Immediately  I  made  a  contract  with  the  agent  of  the  Aliens, 
J.  S.  Holman,  to  have  put  up  for  me  a  small  clapboard  house  on 
a  lot  that  I  had  purchased  from  the  town  company,  paying  $250 
for  the  lot  and  $250  for  the  house.  This  was  built  of  three-foot 
pine  boards  and  covered  with  three-foot  boards,  and  contained 
all  told  one  room  about  twelve  feet  square  and  a  smaller  shed 
room.  There  was  one  door  leading  into  the  main  room  and  one 
door  from  that  room  into  the  shed  room,  both  of  three-foot 
boards,  with  all  hinges  and  fastenings  made  of  wood.  There  was 
no  window  in  the  house.  When  air  and  light  were  wanted,  a 
board  was  knocked  off.  A  few  rough  boards  were  laid  down  for 
the  floor,  not  extending  under  the  bed.  This,  I  believe,  is  the 
house  Judge  D.  T.  Tyler  built  for  me.  All  lumber  used  at  that 
time  in  building  was  sawed  by  hand  and  cost  $150  per  1000 
feet.  The  bedstead  put  up  in  the  corner  was  made  by  driving 
forked  sticks  into  the  ground  and  laying  poles  across  with  clap- 
boards for  slats  to  support  the  moss  mattress. 

Henry  Allen,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town,  had  a  small 
log  house,  and  I  contracted  with  him  to  take  care  of  my  goods 
till  I  should  go  back  to  the  Brazos  for  my  wife  and  my  mer- 
chandise. 

I  went  by  steamboat  for  my  wife  and  goods  on  the  Brazos. 
We  returned  the  same  way  and  reached  our  clapboard  shanty 
without  accident  in  good  time.  I  also  contracted  for  and  had 
built  a  large  wooden  structure  as  a  storehouse,  costing  nearly 
$6000.  My  friend,  Robert  P.  Boyce,  was  the  builder.  He  proved 
to  be  a  substantial,  worthy,  enterprising  citizen,  and  was  well 
known  to  all  the  old  veterans,  as  he  was  one  of  them. 

In  our  two-roomed  mansion  we  lived,  sleeping  for  many 
months  on  our  thin  moss  mattress,  until  we  could  get  our  fur- 
niture from  New  Orleans.  Brother  Tom  also  came  to  live  with 
us.  We  were  young  and  happy,  and  although  accustomed  to 
every  comfort  and  some  luxuries,  we  took  cheerfully  every  in- 
convenience and  hardship,  looking  with  hope  to  the  great  future 
of  Texas.  And  I  can  say  that  neither  of  us  ever  regretted  the 


48  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


move  in  our  youthful  days  from  the  great  Southern  mart,  New 
Orleans. 

About  this  time  I  sold  the  first  flour  sold  by  the  barrel,  and 
the  first  entire  sack  of  coffee  sold  in  Houston,  the  flour  at  $30 
per  barrel  and  the  coffee  at  25  cents  per  pound,  gold. 

Harrisburg  County,  created  by  the  General  Council  at  San 
Felipe,  had  just  been  fully  organized.  Captain  Andrew  Briscoe, 
elected  chief  justice  by  the  first  Congress,  proceeded  under  the 
law  to  hold  elections  for  precinct  and  county  officers,  with  these 
results:  Sheriff,  John  W.  Moore;  coroner,  Wm.  Little;  clerk 
district  court,  Jas.  S.  Holman;  clerk  county  court,  Dewitt  Clin- 
ton Harris. 

So  there  was  nothing  lacking  now  in  the  way  of  good  civil 
government. 

Captain  Briscoe  rather  distrusted  his  own  abilities,  as  appears 
from  one  of  his  letters  dated  Harrisburg,  January  9,  1837,  to 
General  Rusk,  then  Secretary  of  State.  I  give  the  following 
extract  from  this  letter  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State: 
"You  must  be  aware  that  none  but  lawyers  can  pretend  to  do 
law  business  correctly.  It  is  extremely  awkward  to  undertake  a 
kind  of  business  of  which  one  is  entirely  ignorant  of  the  rules 
and  form  of  proceedings.  I  believe  I  am  a  good  soldier;  biit  I 
shall  make  a  very  indifferent  probate  judge  or  notary  public." 
The  people,  however,  differed  with  the  captain  in  this  matter, 
and  the  veteran  of  San  Jacinto  was  recognized  as  a  most  intelli- 
gent and  efficient  civil  officer. 

The  different  governmental  bodies  of  Texas,  as  the  Consulta- 
tion, the  Provisional  Government,  and  the  Government  ad  in- 
terim, had  met  at  various  points  in  small  frame  buildings  or 
phanties,  and  when  the  first  Congress  of  the  Constitutional  Gov- 
ernment assembled  at  Columbia,  each  house  had  to  occupy  a 
small  frame  building.  I  will  right  here  name  all  the  capitals 
that  American  Texas  ever  had  up  to  this  time:  San  Felipe  de 
Austin,  Washington,  Ilarrisburg,  Galveston,  Velasco,  Colum- 
bia, and  lastly  Houston. 

The  archives  had  already  been  brought  over  from  Columbia, 
and  many  of  the  prominent  officials,  including  President  Hous- 
ton, had  arrived  at  the  new  seat  of  government. 

The  Aliens  had  undertaken  to  provide  a  capitol  building  at 


LUB B OCX'S  MEMOfKS. 


49 


Houston,  but  fearing  they  might  not  have  it  ready  for  the  meet- 
ing of  Congress  on  the  1st  of  May,  erected  on  Main  Street  a 
one-story  building  covering  the  front  of  an  entire  block.  At  one 
corner  of  the  block  a  large  room  was  constructed  for  the  Senate, 
and  on  the  other  corner  a  larger  one  for  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, and  the  space  between  partitioned  off  into  rooms  for 
the  department  offices.  Col.  Thos.  W.  Ward  was  the  capitol  con- 
tractor under  the  Aliens.  The  work  was  not  begun  till  the  16th 


CAPITOL  OF  THE  REPUBLIC,  1837-39. 


of  April,  but  it  was  pushed  with  such  energy  that  the  capitol, 
though  not  finished,  was  far  enough  advanced  to  accommodate 
Congress  and  the  heads  of  departments.  Accordingly,  on  May 
1st,  the  adjourned  session  of  the  First  Congress  met  in  the  re- 
spective chambers,  "fitted  up  and  furnished  for  business." 

Next  after  organization  of  the  two  houses  came  the  imposing 
ceremonies  attendant  upon  the  delivery  of  the  President's  mes- 
sage. 

At  12  m.  (May  5,  1837)  his  excellency  the  President  entered 

the  hall  of  the  representatives  accompanied  by  the  heads  of  the 

several  departments  and  other  officers  of  the  Government,  and 

also  by  Joseph  Tucker  Crawford,  Esq.,  his  Britannic  Majesty's 

4 


50  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


consul  at  Tampico,  now  commissioned  to  this  Republic,  all 
preceded  by  a  joint  committee  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

"The  President  was  received  by  the  members  of  the  two  houses 
standing,  with  heads  uncovered,  and  conducted  to  a  seat  be- 
tween the  president  pro  tern,  of  the  Senate  and  the  speaker  of 
the  House. 

The  heads  of  the  departments,  the  British  commissioner,  and 
the  other  attendants  of  his  excellency  were  accommodated  with 
seats  on  the  right  and  on  the  left  of  the  speaker's  chair. 

"The  members  having  resumed  their  seats,  after  a  short  pause 
his  excellency  rose  and  read  his  message."  (See  House  Journal, 
p.  9.) 

Among  the  matters  noted  by  the  President  was  the  recent 
recognition  of  Texan  independence  by  the  United  States  and  the 
improved  prospects  of  the  Republic  thereby;  the  unsatisfactory 
state  of  the  finances;  his  dissatisfaction  at  the  land  law;  the  in- 
formation that  a  delegation  consisting  of  twenty  northern  In- 
dians on  the  borders  of  the  United  States  had  visited  Matamoros 
and  stipulated  with  the  Mexican  authorities  to  furnish  that  gov- 
ernment 3000  warriors,  well  armed,  as  soon  as  it  would  invade 
Texas;  the  favorable  state  of  the  army,  which  reflects  credit  upon 
its  general  [Albert  Sidney  Johnston];  the  effort  being  made  to 
procure  a  navy;  the  iniquity  of  the  African  slave  trade;  and 
finally,  as  if  to  impress  the  British  commissioners  favorably,  he 
gave  a  striking  resume  of  the  resources  of  Texas  and  her  increas- 
ing ability  to  maintain  her  independence  against  all  the  power 
of  Mexico. 

About  this  time  Messrs.  Borden  and  Moore  brought  over  their 
newspaper,  the  famous  Telegraph,  to  Houston.  The  first  issue 
gives  this  racy  account  of  their  troubles  in  moving  and  setting 
up  again: 

"We  left  Columbia  on  the  Ifith  ultimo  (April,  1837),  on  the 
steamer  Yellowstone,  expecting  that  we  should  be  enabled  to 
issue  this  number  of  the  Telegraph  in  the  course  of  the  same 
week,  but  disappointment  and  delay  have  met  us  at  every  turn. 
At  Velasco  we  were  detained  a  week  on  account  of  the  surf  on 
the  bar;  the  tide  left  us  fast  aground  one  day  at  Clopper's  bar, 
and  prevented  us  from  reaching  Lynchburg  until  the  evening  of 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  51 


the  26th,  and  a  great  part  of  the  ensuing  day  was  spent  in 
groping  (if  a  steamboat  can  grope)  at  the  rapid  rate  of  one  or 
two  miles  an  hour  to  the  very  crown  of  the  'head  of  navigation' 
on  Buffalo  Bayou  at  the  city  of  Houston. 

"On  landing  we  determined  to  take  time  by  the  forelock,  and 
immediately  proceeded  in  search  of  the  'nearly  finished  building 
intended  for  our  press.'  Our  search  was  fruitless;  like  others 
who  have  confided  in  speculative  things,  we  have  been  deceived. 
No  building  had  ever  been  nearly  finished  at  Houston  intended 
for  the  press.  Fortunately,  however,  we  have  succeeded  in  rent- 
ing a  shanty  which,  although  like  the  capitol  in  this  place, 

'Without  a  roof  and  without  a  floor, 
Without  windows  and  without  a  door.' 

is  the  only  convenient  building  obtainable.  We  have  therefore 
been  compelled  to  engage  it  during  this  session  of  Congress. 

"N.  B. — Our  troubles  have  not  yet  ended.  The  shanty  is  fall- 
ing about  our  ears,  two  massive  beams  have  dropped  down  upon 
the  stands,  made  a  most  disgusting  pi,  and  have  driven  the  work- 
men to  seek  safety  outside.  The  devil  alone  looks  smiling  at  the 
mischief." 

Among  the  early  entertainments  of  the  new  town  was  a  visit 
of  wild  Indians  to  have  with  President  Houston  a  "big  talk."  We 
give  it  as  told  by  a  correspondent  of  the  Philadelphia  Morning 
Chronicle  of  that  date: 

"Early  in  May,  1837,  a  day  or  two  after  the  opening  of  the 
Congress  at  the  city  of  Houston,  several  tribes  of  Indians  being 
encamped  in  the  splendid  forest  which  covers  the  undulating 
ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  Buffalo  Bayou  where  the  city  is 
situated,  a  'big  talk'  was  arranged  with  the  President  Gen.  Sam 
Houston,  and  the  cabinet  of  Texas,  at  which  Mr.  Crawford  was 
invited  to  be  present. 

"The  'talk'  was  held  in  the  White  House  of  Texas,  General 
Houston's  residence,  then  a  log  cabin  consisting  of  a  passage  or 
hall  open  at  both  ends,  and  a  room  of  very  moderate  dimensions 
on  each  side. 

"On  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  (21st  of 
April)  a  lofty  flagstaff  had  been  erected  on  Main  Street,  and  on 


52  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


this  occasion  a  splendid  silk  flag  of  the  new  Republic  was  for  the 
first  time  displayed  from  it.  Around  this  flag  several  hundreds 
of  Indians  and  squaws  danced  a  grand  war  dance.  .  .  .  They 
began  moving  around  the  center  like  so  many  radii,  as  is  done 
in  the  flower  dance  when  represented  on  the  stage,  accompanying 
the  movement  in  a  dull  and  monotonous  sort  of  music  of  their 
own  voices,  which  became  quicker  and  quicker  till  they  got  into 
a  very  rapid  motion  with  occasional  shouts  and  yells,  and  then  all 
at  once  stopped  and  suddenly  dispersed. 

'•'After  this,  the  chiefs  adjourned  to  the  'talk.'  These  con- 
sisted of  some  six  elderly  and  very  sedate,  grave  gentlemen,  who 
were  seated  around  a  table  and  communicated  through  an  in- 
terpreter. The  latter  appeared  a  very  intelligent,  middle-aged 
man,  and  seemed  to  possess  the  implicit  confidence  of  the  chiefs." 

"General  Houston  acquitted  himself  with  his  usual  tact  on 
such  occasions,  and  aroused  a  real  enthusiasm  by  his  'talk'  to  the 
redmen.  But  nothing  can  be  done  towards  treating  with  In- 
dians without  presents,  so  next  comes  that  most  impoi  .ant  part 
of  the  whole  ceremony. 

"In  the  afternoon  the  presents  were  delivered  and  instant  dis- 
tribution began,  each  carrying  away  his  respective  share.  To- 
bacco seemed  of  all  the  articles  they  received  to  be  the  most  es- 
teemed. Drunkenness  then  began,  and  at  last  General  Houston 
had  to  send  around  to  the  liquor  stores  to  request  that  no  more 
whisky  should  be  sold,  which  had  the  effect  of  inducing  them 
quietly  to  retire  to  their  camp,  but  the  woods  rang  nearly  all 
night  with  their  yells." 

These  Indians,  when  out  of  sight,  forgot  all  their  fine  talk 
with  General  Houston,  and  on  their  way  back  to  their  country 
killed  and  scalped  several  whites. 

Among  the  notables  at  Houston  on  the  opening  of  Congress 
were  Alcee  La  Branche,  the  United  States  charge  d'affaires,  and 
R.  J.  Walker  of  Mississippi,  the  first  mover  of  Texas  independ- 
ence in  the  United  States  Senate. 

The  ornithologist,  J.  J.  Audubon,  gives  the  following  interest- 
ing account  of  his  visit  to  President  Houston  in  his  diary,  May 
4,  1837: 

"We  walked  towards  the  President's  house  accompanied  by  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  53 


Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  as  soon  as  we  rose  above  the  bank  we 
saw  before  us  a  level  of  far-extending  prairie  destitute  of  timber, 
and  rather  poor  soil.  Houses  half  finished  and  most  of  them 
without  roofs,  tents  and  Liberty  pole,  with  the  capitol,  were  all 
exhibited  to  our  view  at  once.  We  approached  the  President's 
mansion,  however,  wading  in  water  above  our  ankles.  This  abode 
of  President  Houston  is  a  small  log  house  consisting  of  two 
rooms  and  a  passage  through,  after  the  Southern  fashion.  The 
moment  we  stepped  over  the  threshold  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
passage  we  found  ourselves  ushered  into  what  in  other  countries 
would  be  called  the  antechamber.  The  ground  floor,  however, 
was  muddy  and  filthy;  a  large  fire  was  burning,  and  a  small 
table  covered  with  paper  and  writing  material  was  in  the  center; 
campbeds,  trunks,  and  different  materials  were  strewed  around 
the  room.  Here  we  were  presented  to  Mr.  Crawford,  an  agent  of 
the  British  minister  to  Mexico,  who  has  come  on  a  secret  mission. 
The  president  was  engaged  in  an  opposite  room  on  some  national 
business  and  we  could  not  see  him  for  some  time.  Meanwhile, 
we  amused  ourselves  by  walking  in  the  capitol,  which  was  yet 
without  a  roof,  and  the  floors,  benches,  and  tables  of  both  houses 
of  Congress  were  as  well  saturated  with  water  as  our  clothes  had 
been  in  the  morning.  Being  invited  by  one  of  the  great  men  of 
the  place  to  enter  a  booth  to  take  a  drink  of  grog  with  him,  we 
did  so;  but  I  was  rather  surprised  that  he  offered  his  name  in- 
stead of  the  cash  to  the  barkeeper. 

"We  first  caught  sight  of  President  Houston  as  he  walked 
from  one  of  the  grogshops,  where  he  had  been  to  stop  the  sale 
of  ardent  spirits.  He  was  on  his  way  to  his  house,  and  wore  a 
large  gray  coarse  hat;  and  the  bulk  of  his  figure  reminded  me 
of  the  appearance  of  General  Hopkins  of  Virginia;  for,  like  him, 
he  is  upward  of  six  feet  high  and  strong  in  proportion.  But  I 
observed  a  scowl  in  the  expression  of  his  eyes  that  was  forbidding 
and  disagreeable.  We  reached  his  abode  before  him,  but  he  soon 
came  in  and  we  were  presented  to  his  excellency.  He  was  dressed 
in  a  fancy  velvet  coat  and  trousers  trimmed  with  broad  gold  lace, 
and  around  his  neck  was  tied  a  cravat  somewhat  in  the  style  of 
'76.  He  received  us  kindly,  was  desirous  of  retaining  us  for 
awhile,  and  offered  us  every  facility  in  his  power.  He  at  once 


54  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


removed  us  from  the  anteroom  to  his  private  chamber,  which 
by  the  way  was  not  much  cleaner  than  the  former.  We  were  sev- 
erally introduced  by  him  to  the  different  members  of  his  cabinet 
and  staff,  and  at  once  asked  to  drink  with  them,  which  we  did, 
wishing  success  to  the  new  Republic.  Our  talk  was  short,  but 
the  impression  which  was  made  on  our  mind  at  the  time  by 
himself,  his  officers,  and  the  place  of  his  abode,  can  never  be  for- 
gotten." 

Houston  having  been  made  the  seat  of  government,  at  once  be- 
came the  attractive  point  of  all  Texas.  Water  communication 
w&«  good  down  Buffalo  Bayou  to  Galveston,  and  vessels  at  once 
engaged  in  making  regular  trips  to  that  city  from  New  Orleans 
and  other  points,  and  many  delivered  their  cargoes  at  the  Hous- 
ton wharf.  A  large  trade  soon  sprang  up  with  the  country  by 
means  of  ox  teams  and  the  capital  city  soon  became  the  com- 
mercial mart  of  the  Republic.  Capital  began  to  flow  to  it,  and 
industrious,  enterprising  men  engaged  in  all  occupations,  giving 
tho  city  a  lively  business  air. 

Yet  while  it  was  eligibly  located,  having  the  advantage  of  good 
navigation  and  a  very  rich  tributary  country,  it  was  a  very 
muddy  place,  almost  the  entire  town  tract  being  black,  stiff  land, 
and  with  very  poor  drainage,  so  that,  with  the  immense  wagon 
trade,  the  roads  and  streets,  although  very  wide  and  handsome, 
were  almost  impassable  in  wet  weather. 

Then  building  material  at  an  early  day  was  scarce  and  high, 
owing  much  to  the  want  of  labor.  There  was  no  stone,  and  for 
a  long  time  no  brick  was  manufactured,  though  material  in 
abundance  for  them  was  there  and  it  is  now  largely  utilized. 
Lumber,  so^  abundant  nearby  and  running  so  many  mills  at 
piesent,  was  furnished  then  only  by  the  whip-saw.  An  occasional 
csrgo  came  in  from  abroad  and  was  sold  as  high  as  $100  to  $150 
per  1000  feet.  Thus  very  few  good  houses  were  built  the  first 
few  years.  In  fact  the  majority  of  the  buildings  for  a  long  time 
were  of  logs,  clapboards,  and  rough  sawed  boards,  and  the  heat- 
ing done  by  stick  and  mud  chimneys.  Stoves  at  that  time  were 
very  seldom  if  ever  seen. 

The  army  was  being  furloughed  in  the  winter  of  1837  and 
1838,  and  finally  disbanded.  This  brought  a  large  number  of 
soldiers  to  the  city,  consequently  there  was  much  dissipation, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  55 


gambling,  and  fighting.  The  city,  however,  was  well  officered 
and  policed,  and  very  little  outlawry  was  permitted.  Courts 
were  organized  and  punishment  was  meted  out  promptly. 

An  occurrence  at  an  early  day  shows  how  Houston  failed  to 
get  a  carriage  factory  and  lost  at  least  one  good  immigrant. 
Charles  Hedenberg,  of  the  firm  of  Hedenberg  &  Vedder,  com- 
mission merchants,  had  induced  an  uncle  of  his  to  come  out 
from  New  Jersey  with  the  view  of  establishing  a  carriage  manu- 
factory. Arriving  very  early  in  the  morning,  his  trunks  were 
taken  to  the  business  house  of  Hedenberg  &  Vedder.  About  10 
o'clock  of  that  day  Hedenberg  suggested  to  his  uncle  that  the 
Congress  of  the  Republic  was  then  in  session,  and  that  if  he 
would  go  up  to  the  capitol  he  might  be  entertained,  and  after  a 
while  they  would  go  to  the  house.  The  Jersey  man  proceeded 
to  the  capitol  after  a  short  time,  and  while  seated  in  the  Senate 
chamber  rapid  firing  took  place  in  the  hall  of  the  building,  which 
caused  everyone  to  leave  the  chamber.  Repairing  to  the  hall 
to  see  what  was  going  on,  he  (Hedenberg)  witnessed  the  bearing 
off  of  Algernon  Thompson,  badly  shot  by  one  Brashear,  both 
clerks  in  the  senate.  He  probably  had  never  shot  a  pistol  or 
seen  the  effects  of  a  shot  before,  and  immediately  left  the  build- 
ing, going  down  Main  Street  on  the  west  side.  After  traveling 
very  fast  and  walking  several  blocks,  in  passing  the  Round  Tent 
Saloon  a  soldier  who  was  shot  by  one  Seevey  nearly  fell  upon 
him.  He  at  once  with  a  double  quick  rushed  across  to  the  east 
side  of  the  street,  and  just  as  he  got  over  and  directly  in  front 
of  John  Carlos'  Saloon  a  party  rushed  out  of  the  door,  almost 
running  against  him,  with  his  bowels  protruding  from  an  im- 
mense bowie  knife  wound  inflicted  by  a  discharged  soldier.  His 
steps  were  again  quickened  and  he  hastened  to  the  store  of  his 
nephew  nearby,  out  of  breath,  and  gasped  "Charley,  have  you 
sent  my  trunks  to  the  house?"  "No,  uncle;  not  yet."  "Well, 
do  not  send  them.  Get  me  a  dray  so  I  can  at  once  take  them  to 
the  boat  that  leaves  for  Galveston  this  afternoon."  "Why, 
uncle,  what  do  you  mean?  Why,  you  have  seen  nothing;  have 
not  had  time  to  look  at  the  town."  "Charley,  I  have  seen 
enough.  I  wish  to  return  home  immediately.  I  do  not  wish 
to  see  any  more  of  Texas."  Charley  had  been  busy  in  the  store 
and  knew  nothing  of  the  scenes  that  had  been  witnessed  by  his 


56  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


New  Jersey  uncle  and  so  was  quite  surprised  at  the  causes  lead- 
ing to  the  hasty  return  of  his  kinsman,  who  immediately  took  his 
baggage  to  the  boat,  got  in  his  stateroom,  left  Texas,  and  never 
returned. 

I  arrived  at  the  capitol  before  Thompson,  who  was  severely 
but  not  fatally  shot,  was  borne  away;  but  I  saw  and  heard  noth- 
ing of  the  New  Jersey  man,  to  whom  1  had  been  introduced  in 
the  morning,  until  1  returned  to  the  store  of  Hedenberg  &  Ved- 
der.  Charley  was  a  great  friend  of  mine  and  brother  to  Maggie 
Hedenberg,  who  was  then  at  our  house,  where  she  remained  un- 
til she  married  C.  K.  Hall,  both  lifelong  friends  of  ours.  So  on 
their  account  I  was  more  than  usually  interested  in  the  new  im- 
migrant, and  though  I  have  often  laughed  over  it  since  that  time, 
I  sympathized  deeply  with  him  when  Charley  gave  me  a  regret- 
ful and  graphic  description  of  his  uncle's  quick  departure. 

Yet  the  courts  of  justice  performed  their  duty  sternly  and 
with  good  results.  To  give  an  illustration  of  speedy  punishment, 
one  "Quick"  killed  a  man  with  whom  he  was  gambling,  one 
"Jones'"  killed  "Mandrid  Wood,"  a  member  of  the  celebrated 
New  Orleans  Grays,  all  of  them  soldiers.  The  grand  jury  was  in 
session.  They  were  indicted,  tried,  and  convicted  of  murder  in 
the  first  degree.  I  was  foreman  of  the  jury  in  one  of  the  cases. 
The  defendants  were  represented  by  able  counsel,  one  of  the 
counsel  being  Charles  Watrous,  a  very  able  lawyer,  quite  dis- 
tinguished later  on,  and  who  died  a  federal  judge.  Motions 
^vere  made  and  argued  for  new  trials,  and  every  effort  made  to 
delay  the  sentence  of  death.  Judge  J.  W.  Robinson5  overruled 
every  motion  made,  although  the  defendants'  attorneys  asserted 
that  if  the  men  were  hung  they  would  be  judicially  murdered. 
They  were  brought  into  court  for  sentence.  It  had  been  rep- 
resented to  the  court  that  the  jail  was  very  insecure,  the  weather 
was  cold,  and  the  prisoners  quite  uncomfortable,  particularly  as 
they  had  to  be  kept  ironed  for  security.  So  the  judge  pro- 
nounced sentence  that  the  two  men,  "the  prisoners,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  insecurity  of  the  jail,  the  extreme  cold  weather, 
and  their  uncomfortable  situation,"  be  hung  on  the  Friday  fol- 

*  Lieutenant-Governor  under  the  Provisional  Government  in  1835-36, 
and  acting  Governor  on  the  deposition  of  Henry  8mith. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  57 


lowing  their  conviction,  which  was  done;  and  the  spot  where 
they  were  executed  is  called  to  this  day  "hangmen's  grove." 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  at  the  time  of  these  occur- 
rences the  country  was  just  emerging  from  a  war  that  had  been 
going  on  for  a  long  while.  Every  man  with  but  few  exceptions 
had  been  in  the  army  and  bore  arms,  and  the  few  civilians  out- 
side of  the  military  were  in  the  habit  of  going  armed;  so  that 
people  were  ready  to  resent  insult  and  wrong  without  waiting 
for  the  slow  process  of  the  law,  hence  many  personal  difficulties 
occurred. 

It  can  be  said,  however,  that  in  those  times  very  few  brutal 
murders  or  assassinations  took  place;  generally  when  killings 
occurred  they  were  caused  from  sudden  difficulties  and  in  hot 
blood. 

For  the  fact  is,  from  the  very  first  settlement  of  Houston  we 
had  good  people,  intelligent  men,  and  elegant  women — men  and 
women  of  good  breeding  and  fine  culture.  We  had  them  from 
the  different  States  and  from  foreign  countries  and  with  all  the 
wildness  and  recklessness  of  a  new  county  in  her  environs  so- 
ciety Mras  on  a  firm,  fixed,  and  honest  basis.  We  soon  had  a 
good  legal  bar,  with  proper  courts,  learned  physicians,  good 
preachers,  and  intelligent  school  teachers. 

Just  one  year  from  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  we  had  a  grand 
San  Jacinto  ball,  and  it  would  have  reflected  credit  on  any  one 
of  the  large  cities  of  the  United  States  on  account  of  the  great 
number  attending,  drawn  for  miles  from  the  settled  portions  of 
the  State,  the  many  beautiful  women  present  with  their  fine 
costumes  and  the  many  elegant  looking  young  men  handsomely 
dressed.  And  why  not?  for  the  most  of  them  had  not  been  in 
Texas  long  enough  to  wear  out  the  finery  they  had  brought  with 
them  "from  the  States,"  and  if  anything  new  was  purchased  it 
generally  came  from  New  Orleans,  the  Paris  of  America. 

The  following  account  is  from  the  Ladies'  Messenger.  The  ball 
came  off  in  a  large  two-story  building  about  finished  on  the  spot 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  T.  W.  House's  bank: 

"Chandeliers  were  suspended  from  the  beams  overhead,  but 
they  resembled  the  glittering  ornament  of  to-day  in  naught  save 
the  use  for  which  they  were  intended.  Made  of  wood,  with  sock- 
ets to  hold  the  sperm  candles,  and  distributed  at  regular  dis- 


58  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tances,  each  pendant  comprised  five  or  six  lights,  which  shed  a 
dim  radiance,  but  alas,  a  liberal  spattering  of  sperm  upon  the 
dancers  beneath.  The  floor  being  twenty  feet  wide,  by  fifty  feet 
in  length,  could  easily  accommodate  several  cotillions,  and,  al- 
though the  citizens  of  Houston  were  very  few,  all  the  space  was 
required  for  the  large  number  who  came  from  Brazoria,  Colum- 
bia, ISan  Felipe,  Harrisburg,  and  all  the  adjacent  country.  La- 
dies and  gentlemen  came  in  parties  on  horseback  distances  of 
fifty  and  sixty  miles,  accompanied  by  men  servants  and  ladies' 
maids,  who  had  in  charge  the  elegant  ball  costumes  for  the  im- 
portant occasion.  From  Harrisburg  they  came  in  large  row 
boats,  that  mode  of  conveyance  being  preferable  to  a  horseback 
ride  through  the  thick  undergrowth,  for  at  that  time  there  was 
nothing  more  than  a  bridle  path  to  guide  the  traveler  between 
the  two  places. 

"Gen.  Moseley  Baker,  one  of  Houston's  first  citizens,  was  liv- 
ing with  his  wife  and  child  (now  Mrs.  Fannie  Darden)  in  a  small 
house  built  of  clapboards:  the  house  comprised  one  large  room 
designed  to  serve  as  parlor,  bedroom,  and  dining-room,  and  a 
small  shedroom  at  the  back.  The  floor,  or  rather  the  lack  of 
floor  in  the  large  apartment,  was  concealed  by  a  carpet,  which 
gave  an  air  of  comfort  contrasting  strongly  with  the  surround- 
ings. 

"As  the  time  for  going  to  the  ball  drew  near,  which  was  as 
soon  as  convenient  after  dark,  several  persons  assembled  at  Gen- 
eral Baker's  for  the  purpose  of  going  together.  These  were 
General  Houston,  Frank  R.  Lubbock  (since  Governor  and  now 
State  Treasurer)  and  his  wife,  John  Birdsall  (soon  after  At- 
torney-General), and  Mary  Jane  Harris  (the  surviving  widow  of 
Andrew  Brisooe).  General  Houston  was  Mrs.  Baker's  escort, 
General  Baker  having  gone  to  see  that  some  lady  friends  were 
provided  for.  When  this  party  approached  the  ball  room,  where 
dancing  had  already  begun,  the  music,  which  was  rendered  by 
violin,  bass  viol  and  fife,  immediately  struck  up  "Hail  to  the 
Chief;"  the  dancers  withdrew  to  each  side  of  the  hall,  and  the 
whole  party.  General  Houston  and  Mrs.  Baker  loading,  and 
maids  bringing  up  the  rear,  marched  to  the  upper  end  of  the 
room.  Having  here  laid  aside  wraps,  and  exchanged  black  slip- 
per* for  white  ones,  for  there  was  no  dressing  room,  they  were 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  59 


ready  to  join  in  the  dance,  which  was  soon  resumed.  A  new 
cotillion  was  formed  by  the  party  who  had  just  entered,  with 
the  addition  of  another  couple,  whose  names  are  not  preserved, 
and  Mr.  Jacob  Cruger  took  the  place  of  Mr.  Birdsall,  who  did 
not  dance.  General  Houston  and  Mrs.  Baker  were  partners,  Mrs. 
Lubbock  and  Mr.  George  Cruger,  and  Mr.  Lubbock  and  Miss 
Harris.  Then  were  the  solemn  figures  of  the  stately  cotillion 
executed  with  care  and  precision,  the  grave  balancing  steps,  the 
dos  a  dos,  and  others  to  test  the  nimbleness  and  grace  of  dan- 
cers. 

"General  Houston  had  just  returned  from  New  Orleans,  where 
he  had  been  since  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  for  the  purpose  of 
having  his  wound  treated.  Being  the  President  elect,  he  was 
of  course  the  hero  of  the  day,  and  his  dress  on  this  occasion  was 
unique  and  somewhat  striking.  His  ruffled  shirt,  scarlet  cassi- 
mere  waistcoat  and  suit  of  black  silk  velvet,  corded  with  gold, 
was  admirably  adapted  to  set  off  his  fine,  tall  figure;  his  boots, 
with  short  red  tops,  were  laced  and  folded  down  in  such  a  way 
as  to  reach  but  little  afbove  the  ankles,  and  were  finished  at  the 
heels  with  silver  spurs.  The  spurs  were,  of  course,  quite  a  use- 
less adornment,  but  they  were  in  those  days  so  commonly  worn 
as  to  seem  almost  a  part  of  the  boots.  The  weakness  of  General 
Houston's  ankle,  resulting  from  the  wound,  was  his  reason  for 
substituting  boots  for  the  slippers  then  universally  worn  by 
gentlemen  for  dancing. 

"Mrs.  Baker's  dress  of  white  satin,  with  black  lace  overdress, 
corresponded  in  elegance  with  that  of  her  escort,  and  the  dresses 
of  most  of  the  other  ladies  were  likewise  rich  and  tasteful.  Some 
wore  white  mull,  with  satin  trimmings;  others  were  dressed  in 
white  and  colored  satins,  but  naturally  in  so  large  an  assembly, 
gathered  from  many  different  places,  there  was  great  variety  in 
the  quality  of  costumes.  All,  however,  wore  their  dresses  short, 
cut  low  in  the  neck,  sleeves  generally  short,  and  all  wore  orna- 
ments of  flowers  or  feathers  in  their  hair,  some  flowers  of  Mexi- 
can manufacture  being  particularly  noticeable  on  account  of 
their  beauty  and  rarity. 

"At-  about  midnight  the  signal  for  supper  was  given,  and  the 
dancers  marched  over  to  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Ben  Fort  Smith,  which 


60  LUBB  OCX'S   MEMOIRS. 


stood  near  the  middle  of  the  block  now  occupied  by  the  Hutch- 
in^  House.  This  building  consisted  of  two  very  large  rooms, 
built  of  pine  poles,  laid  up  like  a  log  house,  with  a  long  shed 
extending  the  full  length  of  the  rooms.  Under  this  shed,  quite 
innocent  of  floor  or  carpet,  the  supper  was  spread;  the  tempting 
turkeys,  venison,  cakes,  etc.,  displayed  in  rich  profusion;  the 
excellent  coffee,  and  sparkling  wines  invited  all  to  partake  freely, 
and  soon  the  witty  toast  and  hearty  laugh  went  around. 

"The  menu  card,  with  its  enticing  suggestions  to  pampered 
appetites  was  not  needed,  nor  was  the  costly  souvenir  of  latter 
day  entertainments;  most  truly  did  'good  digestion  wait  upon 
appetite/  and  memory  stored  away  in  her  cupboard  more 
ludicrous  incidents  and  witty  sayings  than  could  be  gathered  to- 
gether from  a  score  of  elegant  modern  soirees. 

"Returning  to  the  ball  room,  dancing  was  resumed  with  re- 
newed zest,  and  continued  until  the  energy  of  the  musicians  be- 
gan to  flag,  and  the  prompter  failed  to  call  out  the  figures  with 
his  accustomed  gusto;  then  the  cotillion  gave  place  to  the  time- 
honored  Virginia  reel,  and  by  the  time  each  couple  had  enjoyed 
the  privilege  of  'going  down  the  middle,'  daylight  began  to 
dawn,  parting  salutations  were  exchanged,  and  the  throng  of 
dancers  separated,  many  of  them  never  to  meet  again. 

"Ere  long  the  memory  of  San  Jacinto's  first  ball  was  laid 
away  among  the  mementoes  of  the  dead,  which,  being  with- 
drawn from  their  obscurity  only  on  each  recurring  anniversary, 
continue  to  retain  their  freshness  even  after  fifty  years  have 
flown. 

"Of  all  the  merry  company  who  participated  in  that  festival, 
only  a  few  are  known  to  be  living  at  the  present  day.  They  are 
ex-Governor  Lubbock,  Capt.  R.  P.  Boyce,  Mrs.  Wynns,  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  Briscoe,  and  Mrs.  Fannie  Darden. 

"TEXAN." 

A  celebration  was  held  at  Liberty  of  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto, 
April  21,  1837.  The  managers  were:  Messrs.  Luke  Bryan,  John 
Booth,  lion.  E.  T.  Branch,  Dr.  Win.  G.  Lewis,  K.  Bryan,  and 
F.  Harden. 

The  proceedings  were  as  follows:  At  dawn  of  the  21st  the 
citizens  and  soldiers  of  the  place  assembled  and  fired  salutes 
which  were  heard  for  many  miles  around.  At  an  early  hour  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  61 


town  was  full  of  life  and  gayety,  and  the  presence  of  many  ladies 
greatly  added  to  the  scene.  The  place  of  celebration  was  soon 
crowded,  and  an  appropriate  address  was  delivered  by  the  orator, 
J.  B.  Woods,  Esq.  Immediately  after  the  oration  the  ladies  were 
conducted  to  a  sumptuous  dinner,  and  then  retired  to  the  house 
to  prepare  to  "trip  the  light  fantastic  toe."  Many  of  the  victors 
of  San  Jacinto  and  other  citizens,  to  the  number  of  200,  took 
possession  of  a  second  repast,  and  after  the  cloth  was  removed 
William  Harden,  Esq.,  was  conducted  to  the  chair  as  president 
of  the  day,  and  Judge  Coit  as  vice-president,  and  the  following 
were  the  regular  toasts  drank: 

1.  "  The  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas"  (three  cheers);  tune, 
"March." 

2.  "  The  Vice  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas"  (three  cheers); 
tune,  '•  Welcome  La  Fayette." 

3.  "The  Day  We  Celebrate"  (six  cheers);  tune,  "Hail  Columbia." 

4.  "Texas — May  her  foes  turn  pale  at  her  name,  and  may  she  flour- 
ish until  time  is  no  more;"  tune,  "It  ofttimes  has  been  told." 

5.  "The  Heroes  of  San  Jacinto — Champions  in  the  struggle  for  Lib- 
erty, they  justly  merit  the  gratitude  of  their  country;"  tune,   "When 
wild  war's  deadly  blast  was  blown." 

6.  "To  the  memory  of  Travis"  (drank  in  silence). 

7.  "Army  of  Mexico — What  a  dust  we  flees  kick  up;"  tune,  "Spider 
and  the  fly." 

8.  "Texas  Navy — May  she  unfurl  the  banners  of  victory  and  ride  tri- 
umphant on  the  ocean;"  tune,  "Lashed  to  the  helm." 

9.  "Star  of  Texas — A   beacon  light  to  the  path  of  liberty;"  tune, 
"Yankee  Doodle." 

10.  "Soldiers  of  Texas — May  their  breastworks  be  Honor,  and  Fear 
always  a  day's  march  behind  them;"  tune,  "Soldier's  Bride." 

11.  "Mexican  prisoners  —  May  they  on  their  return  home  recollect 
the  first  lesson  of  Cyrus,   'To  tell  the  truth;'"  tune,    "Dear   native 
homes. ' ' 

12.  "Our  host  and  hostess." 

13.  "The  fair — The  highest  incentives  to  honor." 

In  1837,  while  I  was  a  merchant,  I  left  Houston  to  visit  Bra- 
zoria  on  important  business.  After  transacting  it  I  started  back. 
For  the  horse  I  was  riding,  a  very  fine  animal,  I  paid  $250  in 
gold.  While  traveling  along  the  Brazos  on  the  edge  of  the 
prairie  I  was  joined  by  a  party  of  men.  After  journeying  to- 
gether a  few  miles  we  reached  a  beautiful  point  of  woods — ma- 


62  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


jestic  trees,  lovely  shade,  and  fine  peach  soil.  I  had  but  recently 
arrived  in  Texas,  and  everything  looked  charming  to  me.  I  ex- 
pressed myself  as  carried  away  with  this  piece  of  wild  land, 
whereupon  the  party  told  me  it  was  his;  that  he  owned  the 
point — a  labor,  177  acres — known  as  Parkers  Point;  that  he 
would  sell  it  very  cheap,  and  named  as  his  price  $1000.  He 
then  told  me  his  name,  Davis  Moore;  that  he  was  on  his  way  to 
his  father's  place  on  Chocolate  Bayou,  Dr.  Moore;  that  his 
papers  were  there;  that  I  had  better  go  with  him,  spend  the 
night,  and  ride  to  Houston  next  day.  I  accompanied  him  home, 
and  found  the  family  owning  quite  a  comfortable  place.  He 
exhibited  his  papers  showing  that  he  had  purchased  the  land, 
and  assuring  me  it  was  all  right.  I  agreed  to  take  the  land,  he 
to  come  to  Houston  in  a  few  days  for  the  money.  The  next 
morning,  after  receiving  from  him  proper  direction,  as  there 
was  no  plain  road,  I  started  for  Houston.  I  had  to  find  the  way 
with  heads  of  creeks  and  motts  of  wood  for  guides.  After  trav- 
eling a  few  miles  a  fine  bunch  of  mustangs  or  wild  horses  came 
in  sight.  I  concluded  to  give  them  chase,  just  for  amusement. 
My  horse  was  quite  fleet,  and  soon  ran  in  among  the  colts  and 
mares.  Had  I  been  accustomed  then  to  the  use  of  the  rope  I 
could  very  easily  have  caught  one  or  more.  However,  I  was 
merely  running  them  for  pastime,  led  away  by  excitement. 
After  playing  with  them  for  some  time,  traversing  considerable 
ground,  and  preparing  to  resume  my  journey,  I  found  my  saddle- 
bags, with  valuable  papers,  my  Mexican  blanket  and  saddle 
blanket,  all  gone.  It  then  became  necessary  to  cast  about  and 
endeavor  to  recover  the  things.  Much  valuable  time  had  been 
lost  in  the  racing,  and  after  much  more  had  been  spent  in  the 
search,  night  came  on  and  none  of  the  articles  were  recovered. 
There  was  nothing  to  do  but  drop  down  on  the  prairie,  with 
not  oven  a  tree  in  several  miles,  and  camp  out.  Tying  the  horse 
to  my  saddle  and  laying  my  head  upon  it  for  a  pillow,  I  passed 
the  night.  When  morning  came  the  search  was  renewed.  While 
on  the  hunt  I  discovered  a  rider  in  the  distance.  I  approached 
him,  and  when  we  met  my  story  was  told.  He  was  very  friendly, 
saw  at  once  I  was  unaccustomed  to  prairie  traveling,  questioned 
me  as  to  my  running  the  mustangs,  and  finally  said,  "I  know 
now  where  you  started  them;  I  know  just  how  they  would  run; 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  63 


the  slough  is  Mustang  Slough."  This  slough  in  after  years  I 
learned  to  know  very  well,  for  it  was  directly  in  my  cow  range. 
He  remarked,  "I  will  soon  find  your  lost  articles,"  and  he  at 
once  proceeded  to  hunt  the  trail  of  the  animals.  Having  found 
it  he  followed  it  up,  and  in  a  short  time  we  picked  up  all  that 
I  had  dropped.  He  then  gave  me  directions,  so  that  after  swim- 
ming one  bad  bayou  (Bray's)  I  reached  Houston,  a  tired  and  bet- 
ter informed  man  than  when  I  left.  But  I  was  soon  to  be  still 
better  informed.  My  land  friend  appeared  in  a  few  days  and 
received  pay  for  the  land.  I  rested  in  security,  though  I  had 
only  purchased  a  lovely  elephant,  having  no  use  whatever  for 
it.  When,  however,  I  did  think  of  using  it,  I  found  to  my 
chagrin  and  loss  that  the  party  had  no  title  whatever.  It  is  true 
he  had  a  paper,  and  may  have  supposed  he  had  a  title,  but  it  was 
worthless.  He  proved  also  to  be  a  worthless  fellow,  and  I  never 
did  get  a  cent  of  my  money  back.  I  was  brought  up  in  old 
South  Carolina,  where  I  had  never  heard  of  a  man  selling  any- 
thing that  he  did  not  own. 

Now  for  the  sequel  to  the  mustang  chase.  Many  years  after 
that  occurrence — about  twelve  years — I  had  started  and  was 
settled  on  my  ranch.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  my  stockkeeper 
was  on  a  hunt,  particularly  for  my  milch  cows,  of  which  I  then 
owned  quite  a  large  number.  He  discovered  that  many  of  my 
most  valuable  milkers  were  held  by  a  man  living  in  the  range 
some  fifteen  miles  from  my  ranch.  He  drove  the  cows  to  the 
pen  where  the  calves  were,  and  requested  that  they  be  milked 
and  the  calves  turned  with  them  so  they  could  be  driven  off. 
"Who  are  you?"  was  asked  by  the  indignant  fellow  holding  the 
cattle.  "My  name  is  Darwin,"  was  the  reply.  "I  am  Mr.  Lub- 
bock's  stockkeeper.  You  have  some  of  his  best  cattle  in  your 
pen,  and  he  wishes  them  driven  home  that  his  family  may  have 
the  benefit  of  the  milk  and  butter."  The  man  replied,  "I  know 
I  have  some  of  his  best  cows  up.  Do  you  suppose  I  would  bother 
with  any  but  the  best?"  "Well,"  said  Darwin,  "I  am  not  here 
for  fun;  I  am  here  to  get  Mr.  Lubbock's  cattle.  He  needs  them, 
and  it  is  my  duty  to  gather  and  drive  his  stock  to  the  ranch." 
"Well,  Mr.  Darwin,  my  family  needs  the  milk  and  butter,  too, 
and  I  can  not  spare  the  cows  now.  I  will  tell  you  what  you  do. 
You  go  back  to  your  ranch  and  tell  Mr.  Lubbock  that  I  am  the 


64  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


man  that  found  him  many  years  ago,  when  he  was  just  "green 
from  the  States,"  on  Mustang  Slough,  where  he  had  been  chas- 
ing mustangs;  had  lost  all  of  his  papers,  his  saddlebags,  and 
blankets,  and  did  not  know  how  to  find  his  way  to  Houston.  The 
fact  is,  if  it  had  not  been  for  me  the  coyotes  (wolves)  would 
have  eaten  him  up,  and  he  would  never  have  lived  to  have  a 
ranch.  You  go  home  and  tell  him  what  I  have  said."  On  Dar- 
win's return  he  delivered  the  message,  and  I  said:  "That  man 
is  a  truthful  fellow;  let  him  alone.  If  in  driving  you  can  get 
the  cattle,  all  right;  but  never  take  one  of  my  cows  out  of  his 
pen.  He  is  at  liberty  to  milk  my  cows  as  long  as  I  have  any." 
I  regret  that  I  can  not  recall  his  name,  for  that  man  was  a  good 
Samaritan  to  me,  and  I  had  no  wish  to  find  fault  when  he 
thought  my  time  had  come  to  do  the  Samaritan  act. 

In  those  days  there  was  a  great  deal  of  free  and  easy  dealings 
with  other  people's  cattle  that  was  not  severely  criticised. 

But  1837  was  not  long  enough  to  cure  me  of  all  the  freshness 
brought  from  the  States. 

All  this  time  I  was  doing  fairly  well  in  my  business  as  a 
merchant,  and  Houston  continued  to  grow  rapidly.  Next  we 
became  ambitious  and  wanted  a  city.  So  Congress  incorporated 
Houston  as  a  city  early  in  June,  1837.  But  organization  hav- 
ing been  delayed  several  weeks,  we  became  impatient  and  held  a 
meeting  to  expedite  the  matter. 

Dr.  Robert  Marsh  presided  over  the  meeting,  and  Thomas 
William  Ward  acted  as  secretary.  On  motion,  a  committee  of 
three  citizens  were  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Chief  Justice  and 
hi*  associates  for  the  purpose  of  forwarding  the  views  of  the 
citizens. 

Judge  Batterson,  Thomas  William  Ward,  and  myself  consti- 
tuted the  committee,  and  we  were  empowered  to  call  the  citizens 
together  again  in  five  days  if  action  was  not  taken  by  the  Chief 
Justice.  This  ended  the  matter,  however,  and  the  city  was  soon 
properly  organized. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  I  disposed  of  my  merchan- 
dise. Then  I  determined  to  close  up  my  mercantile  business 
because  I  had  but  little  capital.  Goods  cost  high,  and  having 
bcught  largely  on  credit  in  New  Orleans,  I  was  desirous  of  pay- 
ing up,  which  I  could  do  by  selling  my  store.  Everybody  did 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  65 


not  come  to  Texas  to  keep  from  paying  their  debts,  as  it  is 
sometimes  asserted.  So  I  was  determined  to  settle  up  and  get 
at  something  else.  I  was  an  active,  go-ahead  fellow,  striving 
to  make  a  support  for  my  young  wife,  and  had  confidence  in  my 
own  exertions  being  capital  enough  for  us.  Very  soon  an  oppor- 
tunity presented  itself  for  obtaining  a  salary. 

The  called  session  of  the  Second  Congress  convened  in  Hous- 
ton in  September,  and  through  the  acquaintance  and  friendship 
formed  with  a  number  of  the  congressmen,  I  was  chosen  assist- 
ant clerk  of  the  House  of  Eepresentatives.  This  employment 
suited  me,  and  the  pay  ($4  per  day),  though  not  large,  supported 
us  well,  as  people  were  supported  in  those  days.  This  called 
session  extended  nearly  to  the  regular  session  of  the  Second 
Congress,  which  met  on  the  5th  of  November. 

I  had  made  rapid  proficiency  in  my  duties  as  clerk,  and  I 
was,  on  the  organization  of  the  House,  easily  elected  chief  clerk. 
I  was  much  gratified  to  know  that  I  had  so  satisfactorily  per- 
formed my  duties  that  my  friends  in  the  House  deemed  me 
worthy  of  promotion.  I  am  glad  also  to  add  that  my  worthy 
predecessor,  Judge  Fairfax  Gray,  much  older  than  myself,  a 
good  lawyer  and  reliable  citizen,  soon  become  secretary  of  the 
Senate. 

During  the  time  of  my  clerkship  I  worked  night  and  day.  I 
did  my  very  best  on  my  duties  as  clerk,  and  at  the  same  time 
I  was  taking  in  Masonry  as  fast  as  I  could.  Both  of  my  grand- 
fathers as  well  as  my  father  were  Masons — my  grandfather  Lub- 
bock  a  distinguished  Mason.  So  my  predilections  in  that  direc- 
tion began  with  memory  and  fondness  for  them  and  led  me 
very  naturally  to  seek  admittance  at  an  early  day  into  the  ancient 
and  honorable  order. 

I  have  always  volunteered  a  little  advice  to  married  men  seek- 
ing admission  into  our  lodges.  Tell  your  wife  and  get  her  con- 
sent. Most  women  until  they  understand  the  object  and  aims 
of  Masonry  are  opposed  to  the  order,  mainly  because  they  know 
that  married  men  are  kept  from  home  and  their  families  and 
frequently  quite  late  at  night.  They  also  see,  unfortunately,  as 
is  too  much  the  case,  dissipation  in  some  who  are  recognized  as 
good  Masons.  My  wife  had  been  reared  with  great  prejudice 
against  the  order,  although  her  father  had  been  a  member.  He 
5 


BO  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


however,  was  a  Catholic,  and  late  in  life,  becoming  quite  re- 
ligious, gave  up  his  Masonry  as  required  by  the  rules  of  this 
church.  Knowing  these  facts,  I  dreaded  to  make  my  wife  un- 
happy, and  kept  all  knowledge  of  my  doings  on  that  line  from 
her.  We  were  in  our  little  home  alone,  except  1'or  the  oc- 
casional presence  of  my  brother.  My  duties  as  clerk  of  the  house 
kept  me  out  quite  late  at  night  preparing  for  the  morning's 
work.  At  the  same  time  the  lodge  was  busy  making  new  mem- 
bers, and  as  secretary  1  was  compelled  to  give  my  labors  in  the 
early  part  of  the  night  to  the  lodge,  which  required  me  at  times 
to  spend  nearly  all  night  working  up  the  clerk's  business. 

This  was  unkind  treatment  to  my  devoted  wife,  for  she 
thought  my  time  was  occupied  in  my  public  duties.  When  she 
finally  learned  the  facts  of  the  case,  it  was  a  terrible  blow  to  her. 
I  have  never  since  doubted  that  had  I  confided  in  her  she  would 
have  given  her  consent  and  all  would  have  gone  well.  As  it  was, 
her  prejudice  became  greater,  and  to  this  cause  more  than  any 
other  must  I  attribute  my  non-advancement  at  this  period  in 
the  order.  Kor  I  was  fond  of  the  work,  loved  my  lodge  and  my 
brother  Masons,  and  it  is  often  a  source  of  much  regret  on  my 
part  that  J  should  have  failed  in  Masonic  promotion  and  dis- 
tinction. So  after  my  experience  I  always  say,  "Confide  in  your 
wife;  she  is  your  best  friend;  she  is  true  when  all  others  fail 
you."  My  wife  never  softened  towards  Masonry  until  in  1865. 

While  I  was  chief  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives  Presi- 
dent Houston  was  occupying  a  small  rough  log  cabin  about 
twelve  by  sixteen  feet,  with  probably  a  small  shed  attached. 
There  was  no  fireplace — nothing  but  a  small  clay  furnace  in 
the  room  for  him  to  get  over  and  warm  his  fingers,  Indian 
fashion. 

The  question  of  securing  a  residence  at  once  for  the  president 
was  proposed  in  Congress,  the  friends  of  the  measure  urging  the 
immediate  necessity  in  consequence  of  his  great  discomfort.  The 
government  was  ahout  to  issue  a  new  currency.  To  the  commit- 
tee appointed  to  purchase  a  residence  I  proposed  to  sell  for  $6000 
my  store,  a  large  old-time  one-story  house  and  a  half  story  above, 
with  dormer  windows,  if  they  would  pay  me  for  it  out  of  the 
first  money  issued,  so  that  I  could  remit  at  once  to  New  Or- 
leans. I  made  the  sale.  I  then  remitted  and  paid  my  debts  with 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  67 


the  money  at  par.  In  a  short  time  the  issue  went  down  to  eighty 
cents  on  the  dollar. 

This  house  of  mine  thus  sold  to  the  government  for  an  execu- 
tive mansion  of  the  Republic  was  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Preston  Streets,  and  built  by  Capt.  R.  P.  Boyce  for  my  store- 
house. 

During  the  next  spring,  Congress  voted  $3000  more  for  re- 
pairs; and  when  Lamar  became  President  there  was  an  additional 
appropriation  of  $5000  to  complete,  repair,  and  furnish  the  ex- 
ecutive mansion.  As  the  capital  was  removed  to  Austin  in  the 
fall  of  1839,  President  Lamar  did  not  occupy  this  building 
long. 

There  was  in  the  fall  of  this  year  (1837)  much  sickness  among 
the  members  of  Congress,  caused  as  I  believed  from  the  use  of 
the  bayou  water,  which  I  thought  impure.  Having  been  ac- 
customed all  my  life  to  the  use  of  rain  water,  I  proposed  to  the 
Congressmen  that  if  they  would  furnish  me  with  $500  I  could 
procure  for  them  in  a  very  few  days,  from  New  Orleans,  cypress 
cisterns  with  the  capacity  of  10,000  gallons,  and  that  would  af- 
ford them  an  abundance  of  good  drinking  water,  healthy  and 
palatable.  My  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  cisterns  were  re- 
ceived and  put  up  promptly.  In  a  few  days  they  were  filled 
with  excellent  water,  which  had  a  fine  effect  upon  the  health 
of  the  members  and  proved  a  great  benefit. 

A  meeting  of  patriotic  citizens  was  held  on  November  13, 
1837,  in  the  capitol,  to  express  their  views  on  the  subject  of  the 
currency  of  the  Republic.  The  officers  were  Maj.  I.  N.  More- 
land,  chairman,  and  Jas.  W.  Scott,  secretary. 

The  committee  on  resolutions,  composed  of  Anson  Jones,  T.  J. 
Rusk,  Thos.  W.  Ward,  Geo.  Sutherland,  Wm.  Lawrence,  F.  R. 
Lubbock,  and  A.  C.  Allen,  reported: 

"1.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  the  treasury  drafts 
of  this  Republic  so  long  as  the  government  shall  confine  their 
issue  within  the  range  of  actual  resources  of  the  country,  will 
constitute  a  safe,  valid,  secure,  and  convenient  circulating 
medium  greatly  superior  to  the  average  of  the  bank  notes  of 
foreign  banks  with  which  this  country  is  flooded,  and  which 
heretofore  have  constituted  our  only  circulating  medium. 

"2.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting  said  bank  notes  are 


68  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


unsafe,  most  of  the  banks  whose  notes  are  circulating  here  hav- 
ing suspended  specie  payment,  it  also  'being  uncertain  when  they 
will  resume  them,  and  probable  at  least  that  many  of  them  never 
will. 

"3.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  meeting,  said  banks  having 
violated  their  promises  of  payment  are  in  fact  public  frauds, 
and  the  circulation  of  their  notes  ought  not  to  be  encouraged 
in  this  country,  as  it  will  expose  our  citizens  to  great  and  dis- 
astrous losses  whenever  the  final  situation  of  many  of  those 
banks  shall  become  known. 

"4.  'That  being  convinced  of  the  truth  and  justice  of  these 
facts,  the  members  of  this  meeting  will  use  every  just  means 
in  their  power  to  encourage  the  circulation  of  the  paper  of  our 
own  government  to  the  exclusion  of  any  other  currency  except 
gold  and  silver. 

"5.  That  we  recommend  the  same  course  to  our  friends 
throughout  the  whole  country,  and  call  on  their  patriotism  to 
sustain  it. 

"6.  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  published  in  all 
the  newspapers  throughout  the  Republic." 

Which  report,  after  able  and  conclusive  speeches  from  the 
Hon.  T.  J.  Rusk  and  others,  was  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Gen.  T.  J.  Rusk,  it  was  "Resolved,  that  we  have 
full  confidence  in  the  resources  of  the  country  to  do  strict  jus- 
tice to  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  therefore  recommend  respect- 
fully to  the  Congress  to  pay  them  in  the  best  paper  issued  by 
the  government." 

Before  the  end  of  this  session  of  Congress  E.  M.  Pease,  since 
well  known  in  our  history,  resigned  his  office  as  Comptroller  to 
form  a  partnership  with  John  A.  Wharton  and  continue  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  Brazoria.  John  W.  Harris  was  added  to  the 
firm  next  year,  and  it  then  was  considered  one  of  the  ablest  in 
the  Republic.  Mr.  Pease  came  to  Texas  in  1835  and  first  served 
as  a  soldier,  and  was  afterwards  appointed  secretary  of  the  Pro- 
visional (Government  at  San  Felipe.  In  1836,  he  was  a  clerk 
in  the  Xavy,  then  in  the  Treasury  Department.  He  was  quite 
distinguished  for  one  of  his  age  when  he  retired  from  the  office 
of  Comptroller. 

To  my  surprise  President  Houston  offered  me  the  appoint- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  69 


ment  of  Comptroller  to  succeed  Pease.  There  were  several  ap- 
plicants for  the  office,  some  of  them  men  of  experience  in  the 
service,  and  why  it  was  tendered  to  me,  just  entering  upon  my 
majority,  I  never  knew.  No  letters  of  introduction  or  testi- 
monial of  character  were  presented  by  me  to  General  Houston 
upon  my  first  arrival  in  the  country,  when  our  acquaintance 
began.  Afterwards,  while  I  was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, we  were  often  thrown  together.  I  became  attached 
to  him,  and  he  appeared  to  like  me.  Houston  was  always  kind 
to  young  men;  most  certainly  he  was  in  a  great  degree  to  me. 
Yet  I  had  no  reason  to  expect  any  great  favor,  especially  as  I 
was  not  an  applicant  for  the  office. 

The  appointment  was  accepted,  however,  and  I  immediately 
began  work  as  Comptroller.  The  duties  of  the  Comptroller  dur- 
ing the  Republic  were  quite  similar  to  those  now  performed  by 
the  State  Comptroller.  Then  there  were  two  auditors,  the  first 
who  examined  all  military  accounts;  the  second,  all  civil  list  ac- 
counts. When  so  examined  and  passed  upon  as  correct  they  were 
handed  to  the  Comptroller  for  his  examination  and  approval, 
and  if  found  correct,  his  warrant  was  drawn  upon  the  'Treasury 
for  the  amount  due.  There  being  now  no  auditor,  the  Comp- 
troller examines  and  passes  upon  all  claims  of  every  character, 
and  when  adopted  the  accounts  are  approved  and  he  draws  his 
warrant  against  the  proper  appropriation  upon  the  Treasurer, 
who  pays  the  same  when  in  funds. 

Congress  passed  a  law  authorizing  the  holders  of  the  floating 
debt  to  fund  their  claims  in  what  was  termed  a  stock  fund  to 
draw  10  per  cent  interest,  and  created  the  office  of  Stock  Com- 
missioner, who  issued  and  signed  the  stock  certificate;  and  the 
extra  duty  was  placed  upon  the  Comptroller  to  countersign  the 
certificates.  After  quite  a  number  of  certificates  had  been  thus 
countersigned,  the  question  was  raised  as  to  the  authority  of  the 
Comptroller  to  affix  his  signature  to  these  certificates.  A  law 
was  then  passed  validating  the  acts  of  the  Comptroller  in  the 
matter.  My  particular  friend,  the  gallant  W.  G.  Cooke  of  the 
New  Orleans  Grays,  was  the  first  stock  commissioner  appointed 
under  the  law. 

When  appointed  Comptroller  I  was  about  22  years  of  age,  and 
of  course  I  had  no  great  experience.  I  had  to  be  very,  very  cau- 


70  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tious  in.  my  decisions;  for  while  wishing  to  be  just,  I  was  sworn 
to  protect  the  interest  of  the  Republic,  which  means  the  peo- 
ple's interest.  Many  accounts  had  to  be  revised  and  readjusted. 
However,  I  recollect  but  one  prominent  case  that  caused  any 
feeling.  Colonel  M — ,  an  officer  in  command  at  Galveston,  had 
his  account  approved  by  the  first  auditor.  Upon  its  presenta- 
tion to  me,  I  found  quite  an  amount  for  hospital  stores,  includ- 
ing the  list  of  articles  only  allowed  for  hospital  use,  such  as 
whisky,  butter,  eggs,  and  other  delicacies.  The  law  was  positive 
that  an  account  of  that  character  must  have  the  certificate  of  the 
ho&pital  steward  that  the  articles  were  received  by  him  and  used 
in  the  hospital.  This  account  lacked  such  certificate;  therefore 
I  was  compelled  to  reject  it.  The  officer  contended  that  his 
certificate  should  be  recognized  as  sufficient.  I  refused  positively 
to  pass  the  claim,  and  it  remained  in  that  shape  till  I  left  the 
office.  He  may  have  afterwards  cured  the  defect  and  collected 
the  money. 

This  office  made  me  the  associate  of  men  whose  minds  and  at- 
tainments I  respected  and  admired,  and  I  certainly  strove  with 
all  my  might  to  be  equal  to  the  honor.  It  was  a  time  of  bright- 
ness in  my  life  that  was  not  surpassed  by  any  other  period.  The 
drudgery  work  was  hard,  but  that  fell  mainly  on  my  two  clerks. 
The  salary — $2000  per  annum — enabled  us  to  mingle  in  society. 

I  had  a  comfortably  fitted  up  little  home,  a  lovely  wife,  and 
for  servants  two  Mexican  prisoners.  I  could  entertain  my  friends 
in  a  quiet  way,  among  them  the  President,  Mosely  Baker,  Dr. 
Af^hbel  Smith  (Surgeon-General  of  the  army),  the  Aliens  and 
others,  men  of  distinction  and  culture,  as  well  as  many  a  jolly 
good  fellow  that  laughed  at  the  difficulties  of  life.  In  truth, 
society  in  Houston  at  that  early  day,  mixed  though  it  was  with 
some  rough  characters,  and  without  the  sheen  of  later  day 
finery,  was  just  glorious;  and  I  was  young.  I  wonder  if  I  am 
yet  old. 

As  indicating  the  culture  of  the  Republic  I  would  instance  the 
Philosophic;)!  Society  of  Texas,  organized  about  this  time  with 
Mirabeau  B.  Lamar  as  president;  Ashbel  Smith,  Anson  Jones, 
Joseph  Rowe,  and  David  S.  Kaufman,  as  vice-presidents;  Wm. 
Fairfax  Gray  as  recording  secretary,  and  David  G.  Burnet  as  cor- 
responding secretary.  This  society  dissolved,  I  believe,  on  the 
next  removal  of  the  capital. 


LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS.  71 


CHAPTER  FOUR. 

War  Meeting  in  Houston — General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston — General 
Houston  as  the  Author  then  Viewed  Him  —  Difficulty  with  Colonel 
Ward — Visit  to  Mrs.  Powell's — Presidential  Candidates — Anecdote 
of  Rusk  —  Preachers  and  Churches — "The  Glorious  Fourth"  at  Gal- 
veston  in  1838 — The  Bonnell  Expedition  —  Houston's  Administration; 
Its  Work — Lamar  President — My  Experience  as  a  Granger. 

The  report  of  a  Mexican  advance  on  Bexar,  from  Captain 
Karnes,  caused  the  war  meeting  at  the  capitol,  December  26, 
1837.  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  had  just  arrived  from 
Kentucky. 

Col.  A.  S.  Thurston  was  chairman,  and  Francis  R.  Lubbock, 
secretary. 

Gen.  A.  Sidney  Johnston,  Colonel  Morehouse,  Dr.  Ashbel 
Smith,  Major  Moreland,  Francis  Moore,  Jr.,  Hon.  B.  C.  Frank- 
lin, and  Colonel  Thurston  were  appointed  the  committee  on 
resolutions,  and  reported  the  following : 

"Whereas,  the  recent  intelligence  from  Bexar  has  fully  im- 
pressed upon  our  minds  the  necessity  of  adopting  the  most 
prompt  and  energetic  measures  for  conveying  aid  to  our  fellow 
citizens  of  Bexar  and  for  repelling  the  treacherous  enemy;  and 
further,  for  projecting  upon  his  country  the  calamities  he  in- 
tended for  us;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  that  a  committee  of  vigilance  be  instantly  ap- 
pointed to  aid  and  assist  all  who  may  wish  to  hasten  immediately 
to  the  field  of  action,  and  to  solicit  the  necessary  means  for  pro- 
curing supplies  of  provisions,  arms,  horses,  etc.,  for  this  import- 
ant object. 

"Resolved,  that  a  committee  of  correspondence  be  also  ap- 
pointed to  communicate  with  the  citizens  of  the  various  cities 
and  towns  of  the  Republic,  in  order  that  by  a  concert  of  action 
the  whole  effective  force  of  the  Republic  may  be  brought  info 
the  field  as  soon  as  possible  and  enabled  successfully  to  repel  the 
invaders  from  our  country. 

"Resolved,  that  since  Mexico,  regardless  of  the  example  of 
moderation  and  forbearance  which  has  been  set  by  our  govern- 


72  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ment,  which,  by  disbanding  the  army,  evinced  our  sincere  de- 
sire to  turn  our  swords  into  plowshares  and  prepare  for  peace, 
has  wantonly  invaded  our  country  and  commenced  the  slaughter 
of  our  citizens,  knowing  that  the  injuries  thus  inflicted  could 
not  be  in  the  least  beneficial  to  her;  therefore,  we  consider  every 
Texan  and  friend  of  liberty  bound  by  duty  to  prosecute  an 
offensive  war  against  Mexico  until  the  last  vestige  of  tyranny 
shall  have  been  swept  from  her  limits. 

"Resolved,  that  we  hold  all  our  means  and  our  personal  ser- 
vices at  the  disposal  of  our  government,  to  enable  it  to  prosecute 
vigorously,  and  to  an  immediate  and  eternal  termination,  the 
war  with  Mexico." 

On  motion  of  Andrew  Neill  it  was 

"Resolved,  that  all  who  desire  to  proceed  immediately  to  the 
aid  of  Karnes  and  Wells  will  assemble  in  front  of  the  capitol 
to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock." 

In  accordance  with  the  above  resolutions,  the  following  com- 
mittees were  appointed : 

Committee  of  Vigilance. — A.  M.  Tompkins,  William  Law- 
rence, W.  G.  Cooke,  A.  C.  Allen,  James  S.  Holman,  B.  Fort 
Smith,  I.  N.  Moreland,  D.  0.  Stanley. 

Committee  on  Correspondence. — Dr.  Ashbel  Smith,  Francis 
Moore,  Jr.,  Hon.  B.  C.  Franklin,  Arch  Wynns,  General  Mosely 
Baker. 

On  motion  the  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  returned  to  Messrs. 
Davis,  Borden,  Ephraim,  and  Phillips  for  their  several  dona- 
tions. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Stickney,  the  proceedings  were  ordered  to 
be  published. 

Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  having  hoen  appointed  to  com- 
mand on  the  frontier,  immediately  issued  the  order  below  to 
rendezvous  on  the  Colorado,  and  after  a  few  days  of  preparation 
and  consultation  with  the  Secretary  of  War,  set  out  for  the  seat 
of  war: 

"HEADQUARTERS,  CITY  OF  HOUSTON,  December  28,  1837. 
"General  Order  No.  1: 

"The  commanding  general  having  been  instructed  by  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  take  charge  of  the  military  operations  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  73 


western  frontier,  orders  that  such  portion  of  the  militia  as  has 
been  called  into  service  and  the  volunteer  companies  that  have 
been  accepted  for  service  by  the  War  Department,  shall  rendez- 
vous as  promptly  as  practicable  at  Mercer's  ferry,  on  the  river 
Colorado. 

"Colonel  Hockley,  of  the  ordnance,  will  provide  the  artillery 
and  ordnance  stores  requisite  for  the  command,  and  repair  to 
headquarters  without  delay.  By  order  of 

"BRIG.  GEN.  JOHNSTON, 

"Comm.  Texan  Army. 

"B.  H.  JOHNSTON,  Aid-de-Camp." 

The  Mexican  scouting  party  retired  on  the  advance  of  John- 
ston and  the  campaign  virtually  ended. 

No  person  ever  met  Sam  Houston  in  the  early  days  of  the  Re- 
public without  being  impressed  with  his  greatness.  He  was 
then  about  forty-two  years  of  age,  just  the  prime  of  life.  Stand- 
ing largely  over  six  feet  in  height,  with  a  massive,  well  formed 
hand,  a  most  remarkable  foot,  measuring  more  around  the  instep 
than  in  length,  a  large  head,  a  piercing  gray  eye,  a  mouth  and 
nose  indicating  character,  of  fine  proportions,  and  as  straight  as 
a  majestic  Indian,  he  was  a  most  perfect  specimen  of  physical 
manhood.  With  such  a  presence  we  can  well  understand  that 
upon  state  occasions  his  manner  was  graceful  and  courtly.  But 
more  to  be  admired  than  this,  among  his  friends  he  was  social 
and  agreeable,  with  the  ladies  most  suave  and  deferential,  and 
towards  the  young  always  kind,  interesting,  and  assuring.  Often 
while  in  conversation  with  ladies  and  children  he  would  carve  a 
perfectly  shaped  ring,  heart,  chain,  cross,  or  other  emblem,  and 
tender  it  to  some  of  the  party.  He  was  quite  fond  of  whittling, 
keeping  in  his  pocket  soft  pine  or  cedar  and  a  good  sharp  knife 
for  that  purpose;  and  the  making  of  these  little  presents  was  a 
pastime  for  himself,  and  by  those  who  received  them  they  were 
treasured  mementoes. 

Outside  of  his  social  circle  on  public  occasions  he  drew  the 
multitude  to  him  by  the  power  of  his  oratory.  No  man  ever  lis- 
tened to  him  that  was  not  desirous  of  hearing  him  again.  The 
charm  of  his  imposing  presence  and  impressive  manner  drew 


74 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


the  people  to  him,  and  he  knew  full  well  how  to  hold  and  enter- 
tain them. 

He  was  not  a  finished  scholar — not  a  student  of  books;  he  was, 
however,  a  thinker — a  student  of  men  and  things.  In  Texas 
he  proved  himself  first  a  soldier  of  great  ability  and  then  a 
statesman.  No  one  at  all  conversant  with  his  character  will 


SAM  HOUSTON 


controvert  this  proposition.  If  you  will  but  scan  the  history  of 
Texas  and  follow  his  career  from  1835  to  1846,  you  can  but  be 
impressed  with  its  truth.  It  is  clearly  demonstrated  in  San 
Jaointo  and  the  treaty  with  Santa  Anna  following  that  victory, 
especially  in  his  insisting  that  the  President  of  Mexico  should 
be  allowed  to  depart  from  the  country  against  the  protest  of 
many  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army,  the-  result  following  the 
release  of  Santa  Anna  proving  the  wisdom  of  his  decision. 

Then  again  the  furloughing  of  the  army  of  the  Republic  of 
Texas  in  183?  was  one  of  the  most  marked  evidences  of  state- 
craft I  have  ever  known. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  75 


He  was  confronted  with  the  fact  that  he  had  in  their  camps 
some  twenty-five  hundred  men,  mostly  without  families  and 
homes,  volunteers  from  aibroad;  in  other  words,  adventurers, 
soldiers  of  fortune  led  to  Texas  with  the  view  of  warring  with 
Mexico,  all  unoccupied  and  poorly  provided  with  clothing  and 
provisions,  restless  and  clamoring  for  action. 

President  Houston  and  the  more  conservative  men  of  Texas 
were  satisfied  with  the  victory  at  San  Jacinto,  and  they  were 
willing  to  hold  the  country  they  had,  and  to  let  Mexico  alone 
if  she  would  keep  her  armies  off  our  soil.  The  great  question 
with  the  President  therefore  was  how  to  get  rid  of  these  soldiers. 
This  he  did  by  a  judicious  system  of  furloughing. 

Though  I  came  to  the  country  at  an  early  period  and  mixed 
with  soldiers  and  every  class  of  people  and  engaged  in  various 
kinds  of  business — merchandising,  ranging,  politics,  and  ranch- 
ing— I  had  managed  to  escape  any  serious  personal  difficulty  up 
to  the  time  of  the  trouble  with  Col.  Thos.  W.  Ward.  Ward  did 
not  come  up  to  my  idea  of  right  in  a  business  transaction  between 
us.  I  abused  him  publicly.  He  then  challenged  me,  Major 
Izzard  bearing  the  message.  I  referred  him  to  my  best  friends, 
Wm.  M.  Shepherd,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  Col.  Wm.  G. 
Cooke,  then  Stock  Commissioner  of  the  Eepublic,  to  get  them  to 
make  all  necessary  arrangements  for  the  affair.  Colonel  Cooke 
said  at  once,  "Ward  can  not  fight  Lubbock  until  he  fights  me. 
He  is  under  obligations  to  fight  me,  and  I  do  not  propose  to  re- 
lieve him.  The  same  reasons  exist  for  his  not  fighting  Lubbock 
as  for  his  not  accepting  my  challenge,  namely,  that  he  is  in  debt 
and  under  a  large  bond  for  building  the  capitol  and  he  therefore 
can  not  honorably  risk  his  life  until  the  obligations  are  settled." 
So  it  was  decided  that  I  should  ignore  the  challenge.  Ward 
then  said  publicly  that  he  would  chastise  me  and  make  me  apolo- 
gize for  my  abuse.  I  immediately  prepared  myself  for  him.  I 
had  to  pass  his  house  every  day,  and  I  carried  a  derringer  in  my 
pocket  and  another  pistol  in  my  belt,  a  not  unusual  thing  at  that 
time. 

The  difficulty  occurred  April  14,  1838,  immediately  on  the 
adjournment  of  a  joint  session  of  Congress  to  hear  read  the 
President's  message,  and  "in  view  of  the  Senate."  I  was  in  at- 


76  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tendance  with  Mrs.  Lubbock  on  this  occasion.  The  ceremonies 
concluded,  without  even  procuring  my  hat,  J  passed  out  with 
Mrs.  Lubbock  to  the  carriage,  and  was  returning  to  my  office, 
when  Colonel  Ward,  taking  advantage  of  the  public  day,  made 
the  assault,  striking  me  with  a  stick.  I  drew  my  derringer  and 
fired.  The  pistol  was  struck  up  by  Col.  Cooke,  causing  me 
fortunately  to  miss  my  man  and  do  no  hurt  to  anyone  in  the 
immense  concourse.  We  were  immediately  arrested  by  the  city 
authorities.  Dr.  Francis  Moore,  being  present,  placed  me  under 
bond.  We  were  also  separately  taken  before  the  Senate  under 
a  charge  of  contempt  and  allowed  to  defend  ourselves.  On  my 
explanation,  I  was  exonerated  and  allowed  to  go;  but  Ward 
was  reprimanded  by  the  speaker.6  Thus  the  trouble  ended.  We 

•The  Senate  Journal,  pp.  9,  10,  Monday,  April  10,  1838: 

"On  motion  of  Mr.  Russell  the  following  resolution  was 
submitted: 

"  That  the  sergeant-at-arms  be  required  to  arrest  the  persons  of 
Thos.  W.  Ward  and  Francis  R.  Lubbock  and  bring  them  forthwith  be- 
fore the  bar  of  this  house  for  trial  for  an  act  of  contempt  committed  on 
Saturday  last.  .  .  . 

"Mr.  Francis  R.  Lubbock  was  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  Senate  by 
the  sergeant-at-arms,  under  the  warrant  of  the  president,  upon  a  charge 
of  contempt  of  the  Senate  for  firing  a  pistol  at  Thomas  W.  Ward  in  the 
gallery  of  the  capitol,  in  view  of  the  Senate. 

"The  president  stated  to  the  accused  the  charge  on  which  he  was 
arrested,  and  asked  what  he  had  to  say  in  his  defense. 

"Mr.  Lubbock  addressed  the  Senate  in  explanation  of  the  circum- 
stance. 

"On  motion  of  Mr.  Russell,  it  was  ordered  that  F.  R.  Lubbock  be 
honorably  discharged  from  his  arrest. 

"Tho  sergeant-at-arms  reported  that  Thomas  W.  Ward  had  locked 
himself  up  in  his  house  and  refused  to  be  arrested  or  seen. 

"  Thomas  W.  Ward  was  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  Senate  by  the  ser- 
geant-at-arms upon  a  charge  of  contempt,  for  making  an  assault  on 
Francis  R.  Lubbock  in  the  gallery  of  the  capitol. 

"The  president  informed  the  accused  of  the  charge  and  asked  him 
what  he  had  to  say  in  his  defense. 

"  Mr.  Ward  addressed  the  Senate  in  explanation  of  the  circumstances 
attending  the  occurrence.  .  .  . 

"On  motion  of  Mr.  Russell,  amended  by  Mr.  Everett,  it  was  resolved 
that  Thomas  W.  Ward  be  reprimanded  by  the  president  for  the  con- 
tempt manifested  by  him  to  this  house  in  making  a  personal  assault 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  77 


subsequently  agreed  to  be  friends.  While  Colonel  Ward  was  a 
passionate  man,  he  was  a  patriotic  citizen  and  a  good  soldier, 
having  lost  a  leg  in  the  storming  of  Bexar.  Afterwards  he  filled 
the  office  of  Land  Commissioner  for  several  years  with  credit  to 
himself  and  benefit  to  the  country. 

Of  course,  a  challenge  from  a  proper  party  in  those  days  could 
not  be  safely  declined.  As  it  turned  out,  however,  I  never  was 
a  principal  or  second  in  a  duel.  The  Fourth  Congress  effectually 
broke  up  the  "inhuman  and  detestable  practice"  in  1840,  by  an 
act  to  suppress  dueling.  The  penalty  on  conviction  was  a  fine 
of  $1000,  twelve  months'  imprisonment,  and  perpetual  dis- 
qualification for  any  office  of  honor,  trust,  or  profit  in  the  Repub- 
lic. This  punishment  applied  to  principals  and  seconds  alike. 
Incapacity  to  hold  office  had  such  terrors  that  dueling  became  a 
thing  of  the  past  in  Texas. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  Mrs.  Lubbock,  with  the  accomplished 
wife  of  John  G.  Welchmeyer,  the  second  Auditor  of  the  Eepub- 
lic,  and  myself  left  Houston  early  one  morning  on  a  visit  to  Mrs. 
Powell,  who  lived  about  fifty  miles  distant  across  the  Brazos. 
The  ladies  were  seated  in  a  fine  old-fashioned,  two-wheel  vehicle 
then  called  a  gig.  It  had  a  good  leather  top  and  was  in  every 
way  suitable  and  comfortable  for  the  occasion.  The  horse  draw- 
ing the  gig  was  a  large,  gentle,  and  quite  valuable  animal.  I 
was  mounted  on  a  good  Texas  pony.  After  traveling  eighteen 
or  twenty  miles,  we  stopped  to  "noon"  at  one  of  the  Hodges', 
near  Hodge's  Bend,  on  the  Brazos.  A  part  of  the  refreshments 
was  some  rich,  cool,  and  delicious  buttermilk,  in  drinking  which 
we  all  joined  heartily.  But  I  got  more  than  my  share,  having 
drank  seven  large  tumblers  full.  The  afternoon  ride  on  my 
hard-trotting  pony,  determined  to  keep  up  with  the  fast-going 
gig,  was  almost  unbearable,  as  it  seemed  to  me  that  I  was  trans- 
formed into  a  churn  full  of  buttermilk,  and  that  I  was  re- 
churning  the  milk  by  my  hard  jolting.  After  realizing  my 
situation,  the  ladies  were  induced  to  "slow  up"  in  their  driving, 

upon  a  citizen,  in  the  gallery  of  the  capitol  and  in  view  of  the  Senate. 
"  The  president  accordingly  reprimanded  the  accused,  and  he  was 
discharged." 


78  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


and  1  thus  managed  to  pull  through  to  Mrs.  Gen.  James  Long's 
plantation,  near  Richmond.  That  distinguished  lady  treated 
our  party  with  her  usual  hospitality. 

After  a  fine  country  breakfast  we  continued  our  journey, 
arriving  safely  at  Mrs.  Powell's  about  noon.  We  received  such  a 
welcome  as  the  old  Texans  always  gave  to  their  friends.  Very 
soon  we  all  felt  perfectly  at  home,  and  it  is  easy  to  understand 
that  for  awhile  the  family  were  entertained  with  jokes  at  my  ex- 
pense about  the  buttermilk.  Mrs.  Powell  had  living  with  her 
then  two  sons,  a  widowed  daughter,  Mrs.  Kelsey,  a  great  favorite 
of  ours,  and  a  single  daughter.  Their  time  was  most  delightfully 
spent  at  this  beautiful  home,  for  everything  there  was  bright  and 
cheery. 

The  next  day  all  the  ladies  took  a  ride  out  over  the  prairies. 
I  attending  them  as  usual  on  my  pony.  Encountering  a  pretty 
little  creature  (that  turned  out  to  be  a  skunk)  playing  on  the 
prairie,  I  got  the  whip  from  the  gig  and  tried  to  have  some  fun 
with  the  animal  at  long  range.  It  is  needless  to  say,  perhaps, 
that  the  skunk  proved  to  be  better  at  long  range  than  I,  even 
with  a  whip;  and  T  quickly  drew  off  in  bad  plight,  to  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  ladies.  When  I  got  back  I  was  met  at  the  gate  by 
Mrs.  Lubbock  with  other  clothes  and  orders  to  retire  to  an  out- 
house close  by  and  make  the  necessary  change  before  showing 
myself  in  the  household. 

Afterwards  I  consoled  myself  with  the  thought  thai,  though 
somewhat  verdant  myself,  T  was  not  as  much  so  as  Algernon  P. 
Thompson,  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Houston.  This  gentle- 
man, when  fresh  from  England  and  before  learning  the  ropes, 
met  one  of  these  pretty  creatures  for  the  first  time,  and  not 
knowing  its  nature,  took  it  up  in  his  bosom  without  ruffling  its 
temper  and  presented  it  in  hand  to  a  lady  who  knew  the  differ- 
once  in  cats. 

The  intelligent  student  of  Texas  history  will  not  fail  to  note 
that  this  was  the  Mrs.  Powell  in  whose  house  Filisola  held  a 
council  of  war  after  concentrating  his  army  a  few  days  subse- 
quent to  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  It  was  the  unanimous  ver- 
dict of  the  council  of  war  to  fall  back  and  get  out  of  Texas  as  fast 
as  possible.  So  the  famous  retreat  of  the  Mexican  army  began, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  79 


never  to  halt  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Mrs.  Powell 
was  a  true  Texan  and  retained  a  vivid  recollection  of  Generals 
Filisola,  Urrea,  and  Gaona,  who  staid  over  night  at  her  house. 
She  also  saw  Santa  Anna  and  Almonte  on  their  march  to  Harris- 
burg. 

After  a  delightful  visit  of  several  days  we  set  out  on  our  re- 
turn home  from  Mrs.  Powell's.  We  held  up  for  dinner  in  the 
Brazos  bottom,  so  as  to  give  our  horses  a  chance  at  the  wild 
cane  there.  The  ladies  kept  their  seats  in  the  gig,  to  which  the 
horse  remained  hitched.  In  dropping  the  bits  from  his  mouth, 
I  carelessly  let  the  bridle  fall  from  his  head  and  he  darted  out 
at  full  speed,  dragging  me  with  him,  till  the  gig  ran  over  a 
stump  and  was  upset,  spilling  out  the  ladies  without  any  serious 
damage  to  them.  The  gig  was  so  badly  wrecked  as  to  be  a  com- 
plete loss.  We  repaired  to  a  neighboring  house,  and  thence  pro- 
cured conveyance  to  Houston. 

Although  Comptroller  of  the  Republic,  I  was,  it  would  seem, 
only  an  inexperienced  youth.  I  profited,  however,  by  my  ex- 
perience, and  probably  some  of  my  young  friends  can  see  it,  too. 
(Mem.):  Never  take  more  than  two  glasses  of  buttermilk  at  one 
time.  Never  take  the  bit  out  of  your  horse's  mouth  when  he  is 
hitched  to  a  vehicle  containing  the  wife  whose  life  is  as  precious 
as  your  own ;  and  most  emphatically  never  fight  a  skunk,  much 
less  take  him  to  your  bosom  like  my  friend  A.  P.  Thompson,  and 
present  him  to  your  girl. 

Returning  to  politics,  the  preliminary  steps  for  bringing  out 
candidates  for  the  ensuing  presidency  began  early  in  the  winter 
of  1837-38. 

Lamar  was  first  called  out  as  a  presidential  candidate  in  a  card 
published  in  the  Telegraph  and  signed  by  such  prominent  men 
as  S.  H.  Everett,  J.  S.  Lester,  I.  W.  Burton,  W.  H.  Wharton, 
Emory  Raines,  A.  C.  Horton,  John  Dunn,  S.  C.  Robertson,  D. 
Rowlett,  G.  W.  Barnett,  and  Ed  T.  Branch.  His  reply  was: 
"I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  decline  the  duties  of  any  station,  how- 
ever high  and  honorable,  to  which  the  voice  of  my  fellow-citizens 
may  call  me." 

Lamar  had  not  been  slow  to  express  his  dissent  from  Houston's 
policy  of  dealing  with  the  Mexicans  and  Indians,  and  this  was 


80  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


enough  to  rouse  the  partisans  of  Houston  as  they  desired  his 
policies  unchanged,  whether  their  favorite  was  president  or  not. 

The  Constitution  of  the  Republic  did  not  allow  a  president 
to  hold  two  consecutive  terms  of  his  office.  Therefore  "Old  Sam" 
was  out  of  the  race,  and  it  only  remained  to  find  a  presidential 
candidate  in  harmony  with  Houston's  views. 

The  Houston  party  was  opposed  to  the  election  of  General 
Lamar  because  they  believed  he  would  inaugurate  distinctive 
measures  not  likely  to  be  so  beneficial  to  the  Republic. 

Houston's  policy  was  one  of  moderation,  economy,  and  un- 
ostentatious work  for  the  good  of  the  government.  His  idea 
was  that  Texas  had  accomplished  wonders,  and  that  the  people, 
satisfied  to  maintain  her  independence  and  hold  the  territory  she 
claimed,  should  be  willing  to  remain  quiet,  looking  to  the  in- 
crease of  population  and  advancement  of  her  material  interest, 
making  themselves  day  by  day  stronger  for  an  emergency.  Con- 
sequently he  was  opposed  to  all  measures  looking  to  an  invasion 
of  Mexico. 

His  policy  towards  the  Indians  was  friendship,  believing  that 
with  our  want  of  funds  and  men,  more  could  be  accomplished 
by  treaties  and  fair  dealing  with  them  than  by  continual  war- 
fare which  must  result  from  aggressive  measures.7 

Democratic  in  his  manners,  ideas,  and  customs,  he  was  opposed 
to  any  extravagant  expenditures  in  governmental  affairs. 

Houston's  friends  believed  that  General  Lamar,  while  a  pa- 
triot, brave,  honest,  and  devoted  to  Texas,  was  poetical  and  vis- 
ionary, without  rearing  or  experience  in  statecraft,  disposed  to 
be  extravagant  in  his  ideas  of  conducting  public  matters,  not  ap- 
preciating the  poverty  of  the  country,  in  favor  of  an  aggressive 
policy  both  against  Mexico  and  the  Indians,  and  that  his  prin- 
cipal advisers  and  closest  friends  were  enemies  of  Houston  and 
his  policy,  thus  binding  him  to  an  opposite  course. 

Fearing  this  would  retard  the  growth  of  the  country  and  in- 

TDr.  Wm.  Preston  Johnston,  of  Tulane  University,  in  his  "Life  of 
General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,"  his  father,  calls  Houston's  policy  to- 
wards Mexico  a  do-not  hinp  policy,  and  not  a  defensive  policy,  as  claimed 
for  it.  A  short  time  before  his  death,  ex-Governor  O.  M.  Roberts  in  a 
conversation  on  the  subject  with  the  Editor,  said  that  Johnston's  char- 
acterization of  Houston's  foreign  policy  was  eminently  just;  and  further, 
that  it  was  a  wise  policy. — EDITOR. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  81 


volve  it  in  difficulty  and  debt,  they  proposed  to  select  a  candi- 
date for  the  presidency  favoring  their  own  views. 

There  was  a  large  and  enthusiastic  meeting  of  the  friends  of 
General  Rusk  at  Houston  about  the  middle  of  May.  I.  N. 
Moreland  presided,  and  I  acted  as  secretary.  I  was  also  put  on 
the  committee  on  resolutions,  the  other  members  being  Anson 
Jones,  W.  M.  Bronaugh,  Wm.  G.  Cooke,  Henry  Millard,  and 
T.  I<\  L.  Parrott.  Vigorous  resolutions  were  then  adopted,  recom- 
mending General  Rusk  as  a  suitable  man  for  the  presidency,  and 
calling  upon  him  to  be  a  candidate.  The  chair  then  appointed 
three  committees  from  the  eastern,  middle,  and  western  dis- 
tricts respectively,  to  wait  upon  General  Rusk  and  present  him 
the  said  resolutions.  He  was  then  at  the  capital  as  a  member 
of  Congress.  Rusk  promptly  answered  the  call  in  a  courteous 
letter  acknowledging  the  honor,  but  declining  on  account  of  his 
financial  embarrassments  and  alleged  ineligibility,  not  having 
attained  the  constitutional  age  of  thirty-five;  and  for  the  fur- 
ther reason  stated  in  his  correspondence  with  General  Lamar 
the  year  before,  indorsing  Lamar's  candidacy. 

In  the  meantime  Lamar's  friends  were  not  idle.  They  held 
on  May  19th  a  meeting,  of  which  Dr.  B.  T.  Archer  was  president 
and  I.  W.  Burton  secretary.  Their  committee  on  resolutions  was 
composed  of  such  strong  men  as  Dr.  S.  H.  Everett,  Gen.  K.  H. 
Douglass,  Maj.  George  Sutherland,  Judge  R.  M.  Williamson 
("Three-Legged  Willie"),  and  Maj.  Jas.  D.  Cocke.  The  latter 
made  a  stirring  speech;  after  which,  on  motion  of  Dr.  Forest, 
seconded  by  Judge  Sterne,  the  resolutions  favoring  Lamar's 
candidacy  for  the  presidency  were  unanimously  adopted.  One 
notable  resolution  was  of  congratulation  to  the  public,  "that 
Generals  Rusk  and  Lamar  will  not  be  rivals  in  the  approaching 
canvass  for  the  chief  magistracy." 

A  few  days  later  another  Lamar  meeting  was  held.  In  this 
Maj.  William  Kimbro,  Col.  B.  L.  Hanks,  E.  W.  Cullen,  Col. 
K.  L.  Anderson,  Col.  L.  H.  Mabbett,  A.  W.  Canfield,  and  Col. 
Isaac  Campbell  made  up  the  committee  on  resolutions,  W.  G. 
Anderson  acting  as  president  and  W.  W.  Parker  as  secretary. 

The  distinguished  names  above  mentioned  will  indicate  the 
strength  of  Lamar's  acceptability. 

When  Rusk  declined  the  nomination  for  the  presidency  it  be- 
6 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


came  necessary  to  select  some  one  else  as  the  candidate  of  the 
Houston  party.  Accordingly  Peter  W.  Grayson,  a  good  lawyer 
and  popular  man,  was  called  out  as  a  candidate  for  the 
presidency  by  a  committee  of  thirty-one  prominent  citizens.  He 
accepted  the  nomination  tendered  him  and  made  a  visit  to  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  expecting  soon  to  return  and  enter  upon  his 
canvass.  In  a  few  weeks,  however,  the  sad  intelligence  came 
that  he  had  put  an  end  to  his  own  life,  as  alleged  at  the  time 
from  disappointment  in  a  love  affair.  Thus  the  Houston  party 
was  again  frustrated. 

Chief  Justice  James  Collingsworth  was  the  next  Houston  can- 
didate for  the  presidency,  but  during  the  canvass  committed  sui- 
cide by  jumping  overboard  from  a  vessel  in  Galveston  Bay. 

Robert  Wilson,  who  made  such  a  racket  in  the  Senate,  was 
the  last  candidate  to  announce  himself  as  against  Lamar  for 
President.  Lamar  had  a  walkover^  getting  6695  votes,  while 
Wilson  got  only  252. 

It  was  said  at  the  time  that  Eusk  was  influenced  in  his  de- 
cision not  to  be  a  candidate  by  the  probability  that  General  La- 
mar  would  view  it  as  an  unfriendly  act  upon  his  part  and  that 
it  would  result  in  a  personal  difficulty,  particularly  as  in  1836, 
though  without  any  solicitation  on  his  part,  he  was  preferred  by 
the  army  as  their  commander  over  Lamar.  Rusk  was  a  grand 
man.  He  not  only  had  a  great  intellect,  but  he  was  amiable, 
kind,  and  considerate,  and  it  is  highly  probable  he  disliked  to 
interrupt  the  kindly  relations  existing.  I  am  pleased  to  record 
the  fact  that  I  offered  his  name  for  the  place  of  chief  magistrate, 
for  history  must  give  the  verdict  that  Texas  could  not  bestow 
too  much  honor  on  Rusk,  equally  distinguished  as  a  citizen,  as  a 
soldier,  and  as  a  statesman.  As  an  illustration  of  his  unremit- 
ting toil  and  energetic  action  for  Texas  in  the  day  of  her  ex- 
tremity, this  anecdote,  authenticated  by  Gov.  0.  M.  Roberts,  is 
told  of  Rusk : 

"The  night  after  the  organization  of  the  government  ad  in- 
terim under  Burnet  a  council  was  held.  Burnet,  in  a  dignified 
manner,  railed  on  one  after  another  for  an  expression  of  opinion, 
coming  last  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  Rusk,  who,  with  his  elbows 
on  his  knees  and  his  head  resting  in  his  hands  as  if  meditating, 
was  actually  fast  asleep,  as  he  had  been  at  work  night  and  day 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  83 


for  three  days  on  the  Constitution.  Punched  in  the  ribs  by  the 
gentleman  next  to  him,  he  brought  himself  to  the  perpendicular 
and  said:  'I  think  we  are  in  a  hell  of  a  fix.  We  are  worked  down. 
Let's  go  over  to  the  saloon  and  get  a  drink,  then  mount  our 
horses,  and  go  and  fight  like  the  devil  and  get  out  of  it.'  They 
went ;  Husk  went  all  of  it." 

In  the  general  rush  for  Texas  were  included  many  preachers, 
whose  lives  in  some  instances  did  not  tally  with  their  pro- 
fession. To  guard  against  imposition  on  that  line,  a  kind  of 
preachers'  vigilance  committee  was  organized  at  Houston  during 
the  first  session  of  Congress  in  the  town.  Dr.  E.  Marsh  and  Z. 
Morrill,  Baptists  from  Alabama,  appeared  to  be  the  leaders  in 
the  movement.  The  other  members  were  W.  W.  Hall,  a  Ken- 
tucky Presbyterian,  and  three  Methodists,  to  wit,  W.  P.  Smith 
of  Tennessee,  L.  I.  Allen  of  New  York,  and  H.  Matthews  of 
Louisiana.  This  body  pledged  themselves  to  recognize  as  such 
no  preacher  coming  into  Texas  from  the  United  States  or  else- 
where unless  he  had  with  him  a  testimonial  of  good  character. 
Among  the  preachers  coming  in  after  this  was  Littleton  Fowler, 
elected  chaplain  of  the  Senate  in  the  fall  or  winter  of  1837.  He 
was  a  zealous  Methodist,  and  a  preacher  of  considerable  ability. 
It  was  Mr.  Fowler  who  obtained  from  the  Aliens  for  the  Metho- 
dists the  title  to  the  half  block  of  ground  on  which  Shearn 
Church  now  stands. 

In  the  spring  session  of  Congress  of  1838,  Wm.  Y.  Allen,  a 
Presbyterian,  acted  as  chaplain  during  Mr.  Fowler's  temporary 
absence.  We  shall  hear  of  him  again  in  the  annexation  move- 
ment. 

Among  other  distinguished  Methodist  preachers  of  this  period 
with  whom  I  was  intimately  acquainted  was  Dr.  Orceneth  Fisher. 
His  widow,  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Fisher,  is  now  the  honored  president 
of  the  W.  B.  Travis  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Eepublic  at 
Austin. 

It  may  not  be  without  interest  to  note  here  that  the  Presby- 
terian Church  was  organized  on  the  last  day  of  March,  1839,  in 
the  Senate  chamber  at  Houston,  by  Wm.  Y.  Allen. 

The  basis  of  organization — that  is,  belief  in  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, the  adoption  of  the  Presbyterian  Confession  of  Faith,  and 
the  form  of  church  government  and  directory  for  worship — 


84  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


being  agreed  to,  the  following  names  were  appended:  A.  B. 
Shelby,  J.  Wilson  Copes,  James  Burke,  Isabella  R.  Parker,  Ed 
Belden,  Marian  Shelby,  James  Bailey,  Sarah  Woodward,  Jen- 
nett  Smith,  Harris  G.  Avery,  and  Sophia  B.  Hodge.  James 
Burke  was  elected  ruling  elder.  Mr.  Allen  continued  as  pastor 
of  this  church  till  1842. 

In  these  early  days  of  the  Republic  a  very  friendly  feeling 
existed  between  the  inhabitants  of  the  Magnolia  City  and  those 
of  our  great  island  seaport,  and  excursions  to  and  fro  between 
them  were  not  uncommon.  In  May,  1838,  a  party  from  Houston, 
including  the  President,  many  Congressmen,  and  other  distin- 
guished officials,  made  a  steamboat  run  down  to  the  Island  City, 
where  they  were  royally  entertained.  On  their  return  up  the 
bayou  several  of  the  excursionists  evinced  by  their  words  and 
manners  that  they  had  partaken  too  freely  of  the  festivities. 

But  the  big  social  event  that  year  between  the  two  cities  was 
the  Fourth  of  July  celebration  at  Galveston,  to  which  the  Hous- 
tonites  were  invited  by  a  polite  note  from  H.  H.  Allen,  corre- 
sponding secretary  of  the  Galveston  committee,  addressed  to 
Messrs.  A.  Ewing,  Geo.  W.  Poe,  D.  B.  Townsend,  J.  W.  Cruger, 
and  —  -  Niles.  The  Houston  party,  composing  the  elite  of  the 
city,  were  gratuitously  transported  to  the  Island  City  on  the 
steamer  Sam  Houston  by  the  courteous  Captain  O'Brian.  It  is 
not  at  all  improbable  that  there  were  some  excesses  indulged 
in  on  that  occasion;  but  much  is  to  be  overlooked  in  these  old 
Texans  who  carried  with  them  beyond  the  borders  of  their  na- 
tive land  their  unquenchable  love  of  liberty.  The  Fourth  of 
July  demonstration  on  Galveston  Island  in  the  year  1838  proved 
to  the  world  that  the  Texans  had  not  ceased  to  be  Americans, 
and  that  annexation  to  the  United  States  sooner  or  later  was  in- 
evitable. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  the  Indians  were  killing  people  and  depre- 
dating on  the  Brazos  about  the  falls  near  where  is  now  the  town 
of  Marlin,  and  in  the  present  counties  of  Brazos  and  Grimes. 
They  came  as  low  down  at  times  as  Navasota,  only  seventy  miles 
from  Houston.  These  savages  became  so  troublesome  that  the 
government  determined  to  put  a  battalion  in  the  field  to  chas- 
tise them,  and  Maj.  Geo.  W.  Bonnell  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand. The  Milam  Guards,  a  military  company  of  Houston,  vol- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


unteered  for  the  time — three  months — and  made  part  of  Bon- 
nell's  battalion.  As  I  was  a  charter  member  of  that  company, 
and  then  acting  as  Comptroller,  I  obtained  from  the  President 
leave  of  absence  to  go  with  them.  In  compliment  to  the  Milam 
Guards  perhaps,  as  well  as  to  myself,  Major  Bonnell  appointed 
me  his  adjutant.  The  office  was  not  a  sinecure  or  easily  filled, 
as  some  military  knowledge  and  business  tact  were  prerequisites 
for  the  proper  discharge  of  its  duties.  I  had  been  a  holiday  sol- 
dier since  my  sixteenth  year,  but  this  was  my  first  experience  in 
the  field,  and  a  rough  one  it  was. 

Major  Bonnell  was  a  young  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability 
and  information.  I  am  not  aware  that  he  had  acquired  any 
special  military  experience,  and  I  must  say  that  his  first  appear- 
ance as  our  commander  in  chief  did  not  impress  the  men  that  he 
had  any  special  fitness  or  aptness  to  command  a  set  of  raw  Texas 
boys.  He  was  of  medium  height,  with  red  hair  and  freckled  face 
under  a  slouched  hat,  and  he  came  into  camp  in  a  very  long  coat 
reaching  nearly  to  his  ankles,  making  quite  a  priestly  appearance, 
and  but  for  a  belt  around  his  waist  and  a  long  old  sword  dang- 
ling thereby,  he  looked  less  like  a  frontier  soldier  than  any  of 
us,  though  there  was  no  uniformity  of  dress  in  the  battalion, 
each  one  wearing  what  he  could  get  as  most  appropriate  for  a 
hard  winter  campaign.  Our  major,  however,  made  us  a  good  and 
intelligent  commander  to  the  end  of  the  expedition.  Subse- 
quently he  was  Spanish  translator  in  the  Land  Office  at  Austin. 
While  here,  he  wrote  a  little  book  about  the  Indians  of  Texas. 

A  peak  near  the  capital  still  bears  the  name  of  Mount  Bonnell, 
so  called  in  his  honor.  He  attended  the  Mier  expedition  as  a 
private,  and  was  killed  on  the  Eio  Grande. 

We  left  Houston  in  a  very  wet  and  cold  time,  and  in  a  few 
nights  afterwards  we  encountered  a  dreadful  and  disastrous  sleet. 
We  were  without  tents  and  suffered  fearfully;  however,  we  got 
on  well,  having  very  little  sickness  in  our  command. 

After  a  few  days'  march  a  courier  arrived  with  orders  for  us 
to  change  our  destination  and  report  to  General  Eusk  at  or  near 
Nacogdoches  to  punish  the  Cherokees,  who  were  becoming  very 
hostile.  Just  before  reaching  Nacogdoches  another  courier 
reached  us  with  the  information  that  General  Eusk  had  all  the 
men  he  required,  and  we  were  ordered  to  return  and  proceed 


86  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  the  Brazos  as  originally  instructed.  We  were  quite  disgusted 
at  this  command,  for  we  felt  assured  the  Cherokees  would  fight 
and  there  would  be  an  opportunity  to  gain  a  little  military 
glory — a  kind  of  glory  that  most  Texans  desired  in  those  days. 
But  all  the  same,  let  it  be  understood,  we  were  no  holiday  sol- 
diers, but  men  doing  hard  service  with  long,  rough  marches, 
often  hungry  and  thirsty  and  tired  and  sick  and  in  rags,  and  not 
knowing  when  we  might  encounter  an  ambushed  savage  eager 
for  our  scalps. 

In  starting  out  I  had  made  for  me  a  pair  of  fine  buckskin 
pants  such  as  worn  by  frontiersmen.  Once,  while  out  scouting 
for  several  days  with  a  small  party,  we  were  overtaken  by  a  heavy 
rain  storm  when  in  our  camp  asleep.  I  was  lying  in  a  low  place, 
so  that  the  water  ran  against  me  in  a  flood,  saturating  my  buck- 
skins. Not  thinking  of  the  consequences,  and  being  very  wet 
and  cold,  I  backed  myself  up  to  a  hot  mesquite  fire  made  up  to 
dry  and  warm  us.  Before  discovering  it,  my  pants  had  crawled 
up  to  my  knees,  and  I  had  to  ride  in  that  plight  a  day  or  two. 
They  got  tighter  and  tighter  all  the  time  until  we  reached  the 
main  camp.  Then  I  had  in  a  manner  to  cut  them  off  my  limbs. 
I  have  never  owned  a  pair  of  buckskin  pants  since.  They  are 
more  entertaining  in  a  picture  or  a  romance  than  they  are  on 
one's  own  shanks. 

We  had  several  amusing  incidents  to  occur  during  our  march 
towards  the  east.  Wrhile  plodding  our  weary  way  we  overtook 
a  lone  horseman  and  inquired  of  him  if  we  were  pursuing  the 
best,  road  to  reach  a  proper  camping  place  at  night.  He  very 
promptly  informed  us  that  we  were  wrong  and  advised  us  to  take 
another  course.  After  following  his  advice  and  traveling  a  few 
miles  we  fell  in  with  a  party  of  whom  we  made  inquiry.  He  said 
to  us  emphatically:  "The  man  that  directed  you  misinformed 
you  intentionally.  Had  you  kept  the  course  you  were  traveling 
it  would  have  taken  you  to  his  place,  and  the  best  and  shortest 
way,  and  you  would  have  camped  there.  That  was  what  he  did 
not  want  you  to  do." 

After  getting  proper  directions  we  determined  to  camp  that 
night  with  our  false  guide.  Arriving  about  dark,  after  selecting 
our  camp  ground  the  quartermaster  and  commissary  called  on 
our  friend,  to  his  utter  astonishment,  and  requested  that  he 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  87 


would  furnish  us  a  beef.  His  reply  was  that  he  had  none  that 
could  be  gotten  at  that  time.  The  quartermaster  then  said  to 
him,  "We  will  make  out  with  hog  meat/'  He  insisted  that  he 
did  not  have  a  hog.  The  quartermaster  then  told  him  he  would 
be  compelled  to  send  a  detail  to  scour  the  country,  as  we  had  no 
rations,  expecting  to  get  them  from  the  settlers.  He  then  de- 
termined to  get  ahead  of  us,  and  said  he  would  take  a  hunt  and 
see  what  he  could  do.  After  an  absence  of  several  hours  he  re- 
turned, bringing  with  him  an  old  stag  beef  that  was  quickly 
butchered,  but  the  meat  was  so  offensive  from  what  is  known  as 
wild  garlic  that  the  animal  had  grazed  upon  that  the  men  could 
not  eat  it,  as  they  were  not  starving.  One  can  imagine  that  we 
were  angry — red  hot.  I  had  in  my  mess  the  bugler  of  the 
command.  He  was  quite  a  smart  fellow  and  an  old  soldier.  I 
said  to  him,  "Battinger,  should  any  hogs  come  around  the  camp 
call  me,  and  I  will  have  pork  for  our  mess  to  pack  off  in  the 
morning."  I  knew  he  could  take  the  hide  off  so  that  a  porker 
would  be  very  good  "slow  bear,"  as  we  called  skinned  hog  meat. 

About  daylight  I  was  called.  Some  very  good  shoats  were 
about  our  camp.  I  stepped  out  with  my  large  bored  rifle  and 
fired;  the  pig  dropped,  and  the  bugler  soon  had  him  skinned,  cut 
up,  and  divided  among  our  mess  preparatory  to  leaving  the  camp. 
A  few  minutes  afterwards  our  friend  appeared,  remarking,  "I 
see  the  boys  are  killing  my  hogs,"  and  addressed  himself  to  me. 
I  replied,  "You  stated  to  the  quartermaster  that  you  had  no 
hogs."  "Oh,  I  meant  that  I  had  no  killing  hogs."  We  paid  no 
attention  to  him,  but  about  the  time  we  were  starting  off  he 
wanted  pay.  We  badgered  him,  refusing  to  pay  for  what  he  said 
he  did  not  own.  He  followed  us  for  miles.  Finally  we  felt  sorry 
for  the  fellow,  and  the  quartermaster  gave  him  a  receipt.  I  pre- 
sume he  got  his  money  without  interest  after  annexation. 

At  another  time,  when  in  the  neighborhood  of  Nacog- 
doches,  just  before  receiving  orders  to  retrace  our  steps,  we  were 
about  to  select  a  camp  ground,  when  the  proprietor  of  the  place 
came  out  and  advised  the  commanding  officer  that  if  he  would 
go  a  very  short  distance  he  would  find  a  government  fort  with 
plenty  of  provisions  and  forage  for  our  horses.  We  acted  on  his 
suggestion, — found  it  twice  as  far  as  he  said  it  was,  and  reached 
the  fort  far  in  the  night,  worn  out  and  tired.  We  found  a  few 


88  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


women  and  children  "forted  up"  in  fear  of  the  Indians,  witn 
little  or  no  breadstuffs,  and  not  a  pound  of  forage,  so  that  our 
men  and  horses  lay  down  hungry  and  in  ill  humor.  The  troops 
were  all  out  of  the  fort  on  duty. 

Next  morning  a  detail  was  made  to  visit  the  hospitable  patriot 
who  had  deceived  us  the  night  before.  We  took  with  us  from 
the  fort  three  wagons  and  ox  teams.  On  reaching  the  place  we 
saw  seated  upon  the  gallery  the  hospitable  man  of  the  night  be- 
fore and  several  others,  all  well  armed. 

The  officer  of  the  detail  opened  up  our  business,  which  was  that 
we  desired  the  wagons  loaded  with  corn  and  fodder.  Much  pro- 
testing and  some  threatening  was  done,  when  finally  the  party 
refused  to  let  us  have  the  feed,  whereupon  the  guard  was  ordered 
to  proceed  to  the  barn  and  corn  cribs.  They  did  so,  and  filled 
the  wagons  to  their  utmost  capacity,  giving  receipts  for  the  same. 
We  took  it  back,  fed  what  we  required,  and  turned  the  balance 
over  to  the  people  in  the  fort.  They  were  highly  delighted,  and 
gave  us  to  understand  that  the  party  had  never  given  them  the 
slightest  assistance. 

So  you  will  see  that  even  in  those  early  days  there  were 
men — I  believe,  however,  they  were  exceptions — who  did  not 
care  to  furnish  to  the  soldiers  defending  the  frontier  the  sub- 
sistence so  necessary  to  keep  them  in  the  field  and  render  them 
efficient.  I  presume  this  patriot  also  got  his  money  without  in- 
terest some  ten  years  later. 

We  did  constant  ranging  on  the  Brazos,  Little  River,  and  the 
Gabriels,  and  even  more  territory.  At  the  falls  of  the  Brazos, 
near  Marlin,  we  built  a  fort,  more  for  the  protection  of  the  fam- 
ilies in  that  section  than  for  ourselves,  and  evidences  of  the 
structure  are  still  to  be  seen  after  fifty-five  years  af  abandon- 
ment. 

During  a  scout  of  several  days  made  by  five  of  us,  for  many 
hours  we  were  almost  famished  for  water.  Near  the  head  waters 
of  the  fJnbriol  we  came  upon  a  herd  of  buffalo,  then  numerous  in 
that  section,  and  wo  killed  four  of  them.  W.  K.  Smith,  a 
butcher,  and  one  of  our  party,  cutting  their  throats,  said  the 
blood  would  quench  thirst;  that  it  tasted  like  new  milk  just  from 
the  cow.  All  of  the  others  drank  a  great  deal  of  it  and  were 
nauseated  in  consequence.  T  was  the  last  to  try  it.  Profiting 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  89 


by  their  experience,  I  drank  but  little.  It  did  taste  like  new- 
milk  and  was  somewhat  warmer.  It  quenched  my  thirst  without 
having  any  bad  effect  upon  me,  and  1  was  glad  enough  to  get  it. 

Sometimes  the  boys  would  get  out  of  tobacco  and  go  almost 
crazy  for  the  want  of  it.  It  seemed  to  be  greater  suffering  than 
hunger  or  thirst.  Then,  although  I  dare  not  laugh  at  them,  I 
could  congratulate  myself  that  I  had  never  taken  a  chew  or 
smoked  a  cigar. 

We  had  many  alarms,  yet  no  fights  with  the  Indians;  but 
doubtless  this  ranging  on  the  frontier  protected  the  settlers  and 
their  stock.  There  was  no  killing  and  no  stealing  while  our  com- 
mand was  on  duty. 

Our  campaign  was  a  hard  one,  for  it  was  winter  all  the  time 
and  the  weather  was  cold  and  rainy,  while  our  clothing  and 
blankets  grew  thinner  and  threadbare  and  ragged  as  our  ex- 
posure continued.  However,  this  was  to  be  expected,  and  when 
our  time  was  out  we  were  returning  home  light-hearted  and 
happy,  when  a  very  sad  occurrence  cast  down  our  spirits.  A 
soldier  had  received  permission  to  discharge  his  gun.  Just  as 
he  pulled  the  trigger  one  of  our  most  estimable  men,  Sergeant 
Breeding,  rode  up  on  a  very  tall  horse,  and,  receiving  the  full 
charge  in  his  body,  fell  dead  to  the  ground.  With  this  lamented 
exception  we  all  returned  to  Houston  at  the  end  of  the  three 
months  and  were  discharged.  The  boys  sought  their  homes  and 
places  of  business  and  cigars  with  a  feeling  of  gratification  that 
our  past  hardships  had  helped  to  win  peace  for  the  present  and 
greater  security  for  the  future  in  our  settlements. 

On  our  return  to  Houston  we  presented  a  motley  appearance. 
On  leaving,  we  were  well  clothed,  and  though  not  in  uniform, 
looked  quite  like  holiday  soldiers.  Now  the  most  of  us  were  in 
rags.  I  remember  well  how  I  appeared  and  how  astonished  my 
wife  and  friends  were  when  they  beheld  me  marching  through 
town.  The  legs  of  my  pants  had  disappeared,  and  I  had  made 
leggins  of  an  old  green  baize  crumb  cloth  that  I  had  taken  with 
me  for  a  horse  cover.  This  I  cut  up  and  divided  with  the  boys, 
for  many  of  them  were  fully  as  bad  off  as  myself. 

The  following  circumstance  was  quite  amusing  to  our  boys, 
who  were  worthy  Texans  of  some  army  experience:  Our  quarter- 
master was  a  nice  fellow,  a  journalist  from  South  Carolina,  but 


90  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


recently  arrived  in  Texas,  J.  W.  Simmons.  He  desired  to  show 
his  willingness  to  tight  for  the  country  of  his  adoption.  He  took 
with  him  a  small  carpet,  bootjack,  and  slippers.  He  wore  very 
fine,  tight  boots,  had  a  handsome  foot,  and  dressed  well.  He 
would  be  called  a  "dude"  nowadays.  After  being  in  camp  a  short 
time  (by  the  way,  he  was  a  good  fighter,  having  fought  one  or 
more  duels),  he  said:  "I  have  come  out  here  and  roughed  it.  I 
have  endeavored  to  find  the  Indians.  It  is  not  my  fault  that 
they  can  not  be  found.  I  think  the  point  of  honor  is  settled 
and  I  shall  return  home."  Having  got  permission  to  do  so  he 
left  us.  Mr.  Simmons  afterwards  filled  an  important  civil  posi- 
tion, superseding  me  as  Comptroller  in  the  Lamar  administra- 
tion. 

It  will  be  quite  a  mistake  to  suppose  that  the  Milam  Guards 
were  chartered8  as  a  mere  holiday  company.  On  the  contrary, 
a  few  of  the  very  best  citizens  of  Houston  believed  that  a  com- 
pany chartered  by  the  Congress  of  the  Kepublic  and  made  up  of 
the  best  material  in  the  community  might  prove  a  nucleus  upon 
which  could  be  formed  at  any  time  a  force  that  could  do  good 
service  in  case  of  an  emergency  either  in  the  city  or  the  State. 
Certain  privileges  accorded  the  company,  such  as  exemption 
from  jury  and  road  duty,  filled  its  ranks  with  the  very  first  citi- 
zens. The  company  was  popular,  and  was  commanded  by  the 
best  military  men,  such  as  Capt.  Joe  Daniels,  John  N.  0.  Smith, 
James  Reily,  Judge  Peter  W.  Gray,  and  others.  I  began  as  a 
private  in  the  company,  was  promoted  to  corporal,  and  all  along 
the  line,  arriving  finally  at  the  captaincy.  We  also  volunteered 
to  repel  the  Mexican  invasion  in  1842,  but  were  turned  back  at 
Columbus  by  the  orders  of  the  government,  Woll  having  re- 
treated towards  the  Rio  Grande.  So  we  honorably  escaped  the 
disasters  of  the  Mier  expedition. 

I  took  a  great  deal  of  interest  and  pride  in  my  company,  more 

•  The  charter  was  secured  by  the  active  aid  of  General  Houston  while 
a  member  of  the  Fourth  Congress,  and  other  friends.  The  incorpora- 
tors  were  Joseph  Daniels,  Joseph  C.  Eldridge,  J.  L,  Nickelson,  C.  J. 
Heddenberg,  J.  D.  Cocke,  A.  J.  Davis,  and  myself.  Incorporated  for 
ten  years,  with  exemption  from  militia  drills  and  road  working.  When 
taking  the  field  the  company,  not  to  exceed  seventy-five  men,  were  to 
furnish  their  own  tents,  wagons,  and  camp  equipage. 


LVB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  91 


of  course  while  I  commanded  it,  which  fortunately  for  me  was 
after  I  was  district  clerk;  for  volunteer  companies  are  always  ex- 
pensive to  those  belonging  to  them,  especially  to  the  officers. 
When  we  had  fun  in  those  days  we  paid  more  for  it  than  now. 
One  grand  banquet  for  them  cost  me  $500,  and  a  beautiful  gold 
medal,  which  the  best  shot  was  allowed  to  wear,  $50  more.  I 
footed  the  bill  as  a  small  way  of  showing  my  appreciation  of  the 
honor  conferred  when  they  made  me  their  captain.  The  man 
wearing  the  medal  the  last  time  was  Sam  Pascal,  a  San  Jacinto 
soldier,  and  he  was  allowed  to  keep  it.  I  do  not  know  of  any 
survivors  of  the  company  except  Captain  Marks,  Judge  S.  S. 
Hunger  and  J.  W.  Laurence.  The  two  last  were  not  original 
members. 

I  have  always  believed  that  every  county  should  have  a  volun- 
teer company,  well  equipped  by  the  State,  and  provided  also 
with  a  liberal  encampment  fund.  To  keep  such  a  guard  well 
officered  and  trained  is  good  policy  on  the  part  of  the  State. 
The  late  war  with  Spain  illustrates  the  value  of  such  military 
companies,  who  on  call  promptly  rushed  to  the  defense  of  the 
country.  Well  may  Texas  be  proud  of  her  volunteer  soldiery. 

During  my  absence  scouting  on  the  frontier  with  Major  Bon- 
nell,  Houston's  term*of  office  expired,  and  I  will  now  note  some 
of  the  principal  acts  of  his  administration. 

After  Houston's  inauguration,  the  government  of  the  Repub- 
lic  had  been  thoroughly  organized  with  the  various  departments; 
the  courts  had  been  established  and  their  powers  defined;  a  gen- 
eral land  office  had  been  established;  the  public  debt  had  been 
consolidated  and  funded;  all  the  islands  of  the  Eepublic,  includ- 
ing Galveston,  had  been  sold  or  offered  for  sale.  There  had  been 
some  dispute  as  to  the  western  boundary  line  of  the  Republic, 
but  Thomas  Jefferson  Green's  resolution,  passed  in  the  first  ses- 
sion of  the  First  Congress,  fixed  it  definitely  at  the  Rio  Grande. 
This  was  a  bold  piece  of  legislation,  but  Texas  has  sustained  it 
ever  afterwards  with  her  blood  and  treasure.  The  Cordova  re- 
bellion of  Mexicans  and  Indians  was  suppressed,  leaving  pros- 
pects of  peace  on  that  line.  Perhaps  the  most  sharply  criticised 
act  of  Houston's  first  administration  was  the  incorporation  of 
the  Texas  Railroad,  Navigation  and  Banking  Company.  This 
became  a  law  by  his  approval,  and  not  over  his  opposition, 


92  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


as  generally  believed.  When  convinced  of  his  mistake,  the  Presi- 
dent turned  against  it  and  defeated  its  going  into  effect  by  his 
official  influence.  This  company  was  incorporated  in  the  name 
of  Branch  T.  Archer,  James  Collingsworth,  and  their  associates 
and  assigns.  The  capital  stock  was  $5,000,000,  divided  into  50,- 
000  shares  of  $100  each. 

The  signatures  of  B.  T.  Archer,  James  Collingsworth,  J. 
Pinckney  Henderson,  Thos.  F.  McKinney,  and  S.  F.  Austin  were 
attached  to  the  petition  for  the  charter.  The  bill  was  duly  signed 
by  President  Houston,  December  16,  1836.  To  become  effective 
as  a  law,  however,  $25,000  in  gold  or  silver  had  to  be  paid  over 
within  eighteen  months  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Kepublic.  When 
the  required  sum  was  offered  in  paper,  Treasurer  Brigham  re- 
fused to  accept  it  as  a  compliance  with  the  law,  and  thus  the 
measure  was  finally  defeated. 

Mirabeau  B.  Lamar  was  inaugurated  President  of  the  Repub- 
lic of  Texas  on  December  10,  1838.  His  private  secretary,  Mr. 
Thompson,  read  his  inaugural  address,  much  to  the  disappoint- 
ment of  the  crowd  who  had  lingered  after  listening  to  the  elo- 
quent valedictory  of  President  Houston. 

The  first  cabinet  officers  announced  by  the  new  President  were 
Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Secretary  of  War,  and  Barnard  E.  Bee, 
Secretary  of  State,  both  excellent  appointments,  and  confirmed 
at  once  by  the  Senate;  and  after  these  were  successively  made 
public  the  names  of  Memucan  Hunt,  Secretary  of  the  Navy; 
Richard  G.  Dunlap,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  Charles  Wat- 
rous,  Attorney-General. 

This,  the  Third  Congress,  in  its  early  days  elected  General 
Rusk  Chief  Justice  in  place  of  James  Collingsworth,  deceased. 
The  position  had  been  temporarily  held  by  John  Birdsall,  an  ap- 
pointee of  President  Houston.  Texas  sustained  a  great  loss  this 
winter  in  the  death  of  John  A.  Wharton,  Congressman  from 
Brazoria.  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith,  Surgeon-General  of  the  Texan 
army,  was  his  attending  physician.  Ex-President  D.  G.  Burnet 
on  invitation,  delivered  before  both  houses  of  Congress,  his  in- 
comparable eulogy  beginning  with  these  words:  "The  keenest 
blade  on  the  field  of  San  Jacinto  is  broken — the  brave,  the  gen- 
erous, the  talented  John  A.  Wharton  is  no  more." 

Very  soon  after  my  return  my  friend  Col.  Barnard  E.  Bee, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  98 


once  Houston's  Secretary  of  War  and  father  of  Gen.  Hamilton 
P.  Bee  (who  was  then  my  clerk),  calling  upon  me  reminded  me 
of  my  position  toward  the  election  of  General  Lamar.  He  gave 
me  to  understand  that  my  friend  Major  Simmons  would  be  ap- 
pointed in  my  place,  and  advised  me  to  resign.  I  asked  the 
colonel  why  I  was  to  be  displaced.  "Is  there  any  thing  personal 
against  me — any  charges  of  neglect  of  duty?"  "Nothing  ;  the 
change  will  be  made  alone  for  politics  or  in  consequence  of  your 
strict  adherence  to  the  Houston  party."  I  then  said  to  the 
colonel,  "That  is  entirely  satisfactory.  When  Mr.  Simmons 
is  duly  appointed  and  qualified,  let  him  call  and  everything  will 
be  ready  and  the  office  surrendered  to  him."  In  a  short  time 
he  appeared,  and  I  retired. 

Gail  Borden,  the  very  able  and  popular  old  Texan,  collector 
of  the  port  of  Galveston,  was  removed  for  similar  reasons  and  his 
office  given  to  a  very  elegant  old  gentleman,  a  Mr.  Roberts,  but 
very  recently  from  Alabama.  He  was  the  father  of  one  of  our 
most  distinguished  lawyers,  Sam  Roberts,  of  North  Texas. 

In  a  very  few  days  after  leaving  the  comptroller's  office  I  was 
surprised  and  pleased  to  find,  in  the  Houston  Telegraph  what 
an  experienced,  valuable  and  efficient  man  I  had  been;  and  I  was 
coupled  with  Gail  Borden,  the  honest,  capable,  and  energetic 
collector  of  Galveston,  two  of  the  very  best  officers  of  the  Re- 
public removed  solely  for  political  reasons;  for  all  of  which  the 
administration  was  editorially  berated.  It  may  be  well  to  state 
here  that  the  country  was  divided  into  the  "Houston  Party,"  as 
all  adherents  of  Sam  Houston  were  called,  and  the  "Anti-Houp- 
ton  Party."  for  in  those  days  there  were  no  Democratic  or  Whigs 
in  a  party  sense  in  Texas,  and  elections  turned  as  to  the  policies 
advocated  by  Houston  and  those  opposed  to  him.  I  believed 
firmly  in  his  policies  for  the  Republic,  so  in  the  last  election  I 
was  opposed  to  Lamar,  and  thus  I  was  retired  from  office. 

Very  soon  I  became  a  granger — that's  a  modern  Cincinnatus 
in  his  own  opinion — retiring  to  farming  and  wood-chopping  on 
Buffalo  Bayou.  I  rented  the  historic  Allen  Vince  place,  situ- 
ated on  the  bayou  of  that  name,  in  which  Santa  Anna  was 
swamped  as  he  attempted  to  escape  from  the  San  Jacinto  battle- 
field. I  have  often  seen  the  fine  black  horse  taken  from  Yince 
upon  which  the  Mexican  general  attempted  to  escape  when  he 


94  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


was  bogged  in  the  soft  loam  left  at  the  head  of  tide  water,  just 
where  the  much  talked  of  bridge  was  burned,  lie  then  hid  in 
the  grass  until  discovered  by  the  men  in  pursuit,  with  Sylvester, 
Miles,  and  Robinson. 

Now,  I  didn't  take  hold  of  the  handle  of  the  plow  and  have  a 
rope  tied  to  the  left  horn  of  a  little  steer  not  as  big  as  a  jack- 
rabbit,  according  to  the  picture  in  the  old  story  book,  when  the 
senate  arrived  to  beg  the  great  patriot,  Cincinnatus,  to  come  and 
save  Rome,  and  I  wasn't  sent  for  while  I  was  on  the  farm,  either. 
But  I  had  a  fine  large  ox  team,  and  I  drove  it  with  a  long  whip 
to  crack  over  them,  singing  out  in  a  stentorian  voice  "Gee  whoa!" 
"haw,  Tom!"  "Come  back  here,  Buck!"  interlarded  witn  exple- 
tives that  should  not  fall  on  polite  ears,  but  were  some  way  very 
persuasive  to  the  oxen  to  move  on. 

Though  I  did  not  chop  the  cord  wood,  I  hauled  it  to  the 
steamboat  landing  myself.  I  didn't  hill  up  potatoes,  but  I 
carried  water  and  watered  them.  I  hired  negroes  for  heavy 
work,  and  for  domestic  service  I  had  my  Mexican,  Antonio. 
He,  with  two  other  Mexicans,  soon  after  my  coming  to  Houston 
were  farmed  out  to  me  by  the  government.  As  the  Republic 
could  not  afford  the  expense  of  guarding  and  caring  for  the 
hundreds  of  prisoners  on  their  hands,  they  were  turned  over  to 
responsible  parties  upon  the  latter  giving  bond  for  good  treat- 
ment of  the  prisoners  and  their  safe  delivery  when  demanded. 
I  had  these  men  several  years,  as  also  a  woman.  In  fact  many 
of  them  chose  to  remain  in  the  country  after  their  release,  being 
quite  happy  that  they  were  not  massacred  when  they  were  cap- 
tured. The  terror  of  the  privates  and  the  opinion  that  they 
themselves  held  of  the  barbarity  of  the  Mexican  officers  toward 
our  vanquished  soldiery  voiced  itself  in  the  cry  they  sent  up  as 
they  threw  down  their  arms  at  San  Jacinto,  "Me  no  Alamo!  Me 
no  Goliad!" 

As  a  rule  they  were  very  tractable  and  proved  of  much  service 
in  our  first  rough  way  of  living.  When  we  were  in  our  clapboard 
shanty,  two  years  before  this,  they  cooked  out  of  doors  for  us, 
and  once  during  a  remarkable  spell  of  cold  weather  they  saved 
us  from  suffering.  It  snowed  and  froze  for  several  days,  and  the 
thin  walls  of  our  abode  were  little  protection  from  the  biting 
wind.  The  snow  drifted  through,  and  only  in  the  bed  under  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MKMO'IRS.  95 


thick  blankets  could  we  keep  warm,  and  only  then  could  we 
keep  the  snow  out  of  our  faces  by  the  thick  cloth  of  the  mosquito 
bar  at  the  top  of  the  improvised  canopy.  Secure  in  the  service  of 
our  faithful  Mexicans,  who  foraged  and  cooked  as  best  they 
could,  keeping  up  a  log-heap  fire  and  bringing  us  our  meals  to 
the  bedside,  we  snoozed  away  two  days  until  the  storm  was  over. 
This  was  an  unprecedented  spell  of  weather.  But  I  have  gone  off 
to  my  Mexicans  when  I  should  be  telling  of  my  farm.  Well,  I 
did  work  very  hard  and  my  wife  had  Antonio  to  help  her  cook ; 
but  she  brought  my  dinner  to  me  when  I  was  at  work,  and  I  re- 
member well  the  first  time  she  went  out  to  help  milk.  She  had 
on  French  kid  slippers  and  silk  stockings.  The  season  wore 
on  amid  fun  and  hardships,  and  the  crop  was  gathered.  Then 
I  chartered  a  small  sloop  boat  called  the  William,  loaded  her 
with  my  farm  truck,  and  started  for  Galveston  Island  with  one 
other  man  on  board.  We  sailed  down  Buffalo  Bayou,  out  of 
San  Jacinto  Bay  across  Clopper  s  bar  in  safety,  and  reached  and 
crossed  Red  Fish  bar  all  right.  But  after  crossing  Red  Fish  bar 
we  encountered  bad  weather.  The  wind  became  very  heavy, 
and  in  consequence,  I  suppose,  of  bad  management — in  defiance 
of  former  experience,  I  had  no  old  tar  along — our  vessel  upset, 
and  the  cargo  of  potatoes  and  other  produce  was  dumped  into 
Galveston  bay.  Thus  much  of  the  labor  of  many  hard  months 
on  the  farm  was  all  lost.  One  thing  I  am  sure,  it  was  my  first 
and  last  attempt  to  move  my  crop  on  a  vessel  under  my  own 
command.  How  did  I  get  out?  Why,  another  vessel  picked 
me  up;  but  about  that  time  it  seemed  to  me  that  my  potatoes, 
pumpkins,  and  truck  stuff  were  of  more  consequence  than  myself, 
and  they  were  at  the  bottom.  After  that  experience,  as  it  was 
beginning  to  appear  that  my  wood  contract  was  not  a  paying 
business,  it  did  not  take  me  long  to  decide  against  farming. 


96  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  FIVE. 

Our  French  Naval  Visitors  in  1838  —  Festivities  at  Houston  and  Galves- 
ton  —  The  Selection  of  Austin  as  the  Capital  of  the  Republic  —  In  the 
Commission  Business  at  Houston — General  Houston  and  Bride  Our 
Guests  —  The  Canvass  of  184(M1  in  Harris  County  and  My  Election  as 
Clerk  of  the  District  Court  —  The  Canvass  for  the  Presidency  of  the 
Republic  Between  Burnet  and  Houston  and  the  Election  of  the  Latter 
—  Henry  Smith  Declining  to  Be  a  Candidate  for  Vice-President,  Ed 
Burleson  Becomes  the  Running  Mate  of  Houston  and  Is  Elected  —  The 
Santa  Fe  Expedition  —  My  Brother  Tom  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Expedi- 
tion—  Lamar's  Work  in  the  Cause  of  Education  —  Expulsion  of  the 
Cherokees  from  Texas  —  Collapse  of  the  Public  Credit,  and  the  Begin- 
ning of  Retrenchment. 

On  his  way  home  from  the  successful  bombardment  of  San 
Juan  d'Ulloa  and  capture  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  French  Admiral 
Baudin  with  his  fleet  visited  Texas  in  May,  1839.  The  admiral 
himself  with  an  aid  came  ashore  at  Velasco,  and  they  were 
escorted  by  Gen.  Thos.  J.  Green  to  Colonel  Wharton's  planta- 
tion, and  thence  taken  in  Colonel  Groce's  carriage  in  charge  of 
Captain  Clendenning  to  the  city  of  Houston.  President  Lamar 
had  gone  to  Galveston  to  meet  the  gallant  Frenchman,  but  soon 
returned,  and  the  admiral  and  aid  were  treated  with  true  Texas 
hospitality  by  the  generous  people  of  Houston.  After  four  days 
of  festivities  the  distinguished  visitors,  attended  by  many  lead- 
ing citizens,  took  passage  in  a  steamboat  down  Buffalo  Bayou  to 
Galveston.  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith  did  the  special  honors  at  Houston 
to  these  foreign  guests,  speaking  French,  to  their  great  delight, 
with  the  grace  of  a  Frenchman.  And  it  fell  upon  the  courtly 
and  learned  doctor  to  point  out  from  the  deck  of  the  steamer  to 
these  fighting  Frenchmen  the  prairie  of  San  Jacinto,  where  had 
been  decided  three  years  before  the  independence  of  Texas.  Ad- 
miral Baudin  in  a  few  days  rejoined  his  fleet  of  twenty-six 
vessels  anchored  off  the  harbor  of  Galveston.  Next  a  grand  ball 
was  given  on  board  the  flagship  Nereide,  and  the  elite  of  Texan 
society,  particularly  in  Houston  and  Galveston,  were  invited. 

The  Texan  war  brig  Zavala  carried  out  the  Texan  ball-goers 
to  the  Nereide,  where  was  a  brilliant  concourse  of  naval  officers 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  97 


fresh  from  their  victories  at  Vera  Cruz.  Ignorance  of  each 
others  language  at  first  caused  some  embarrassment  between  the 
Texan  ladies  and  the  gallant  Frenchmen,  but  they  soon  found  a 
common  language  in  the  mazes  of  the  dance.  The  fleet  sailed 
for  France  in  May,  1839.  The  Texans  and  Frenchmen  parted  as 
fast  friends,  and  it  is  certain  that  Admiral  Baudin's  favorable 
report  on  his  return  home  caused  the  government  of  France  to 
recognize  the  Texan  Republic  In  a  short  time  England  fol- 
lowed in  the  wake  of  France,  and  the  Eepublic  was  safe  beyond 
all  contingencies. 

During  the  first  year  of  Lamar^s  administration  and  while  I 
was  on  my  farm,  commissioners  appointed  by  the  Third  Congress 
selected  a  site  on  the  then  Indian  frontier  for  a  permanent 
capital.  The  point  chosen  was  an  eligible  spot  on  the  Colorado, 
just  where  that  river  emerges  from  the  mountains  into  the  prairie 
region.  Gen.  Ed.  Waller  laid  out  the  new  town,  which  was 
called  Austin,  in  honor  of  "the  Father  of  Texas,"  made  sales  of 
town  lots,  and  erected  the  buildings  necessary  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  government,  including  the  capitol,  department 
offices,  the  executive  mansion,  etc.  In  October  the  archives  in 
Houston  were  loaded  on  thirty  wagons  and  hauled  to  the  new 
capital.  The  President,  with  some  of  his  cabinet,  was  met  about 
two  miles  from  Austin  by  a  deputation  of  citizens,  headed  by 
Colonel  Burleson,  welcomed  by  a  speech  from  Ed.  Waller,  and 
escorted  to  the  city  to  Bullock's  Hotel.  Here  the  President  met 
a  large  concourse  of  friends  who  partook  with  him  of  a  sump- 
tuous dinner,  closing  with  toasts,  drinks,  responses,  not  uncom- 
mon then  on  such  occasions  in  Texas. 

As  before  remarked,  farming  did  not  pay  me,  and  I  returned  to 
the  city  of  Houston  at  the  close  of  the  year  1839  and  engaged 
in  the  commission  business  with  James  W.  Scott,  formerly  a 
paymaster  in  the  army  of  Texas,  a  man  of  excellent  ability  and 
unimpeachable  integrity.  He  was  afterwards  an  able  represent- 
ative of  Harris  County  in  the  Legislature. 

WQ  were  at  that  time  the  only  auction  and  commission  mer- 
chants in  the  city,  and  received  frequent  consignments  from 
foreign  countries  as  well  as  from  the  local  trade.  Here  are  some 
advertisements  from  the  Morning  Star  of  March,  1840: 


98  LURBOCICS   MEMOIRS. 


"SCOTT  &  LUBBOCK. — A  few  dozen  Choice  French  Wines 
per  French  Brig  Fils  Unique.  Hardware,  Groceries,  Boots  and 
Shoes,  Lots  and  Blocks,  Tools;  40  to  50,000  feet  Lumber;  12 
bbls.  Sugar;  30  sacks  Salt;  Hams;  Havana  Segars.  20  sacks 
Coffee,  the  remainder  of  the  cargo  of  the  schooner  Francis,  direct 
from  Havana." 

Yet  while  we  made  a  living,  it  was  with  great  labor  and  exer- 
tion. I  did  the  auctioneering  and  my  partner  Scott  did  the 
bookkeeping.  No  one  unless  he  has  been  an  auctioneer  can 
appreciate  the  difficulties  of  selling  property  at  auction,  consist- 
ing of  every  conceivable  thing,  from  a  toothpick  to  a  ship's 
anchor,  from  a  jar  of  preserves  to  a  hogshead  of  sugar,  and  now 
and  then  a  block  of  lots  and  a  steamboat. 

While  following  this  business  with  all  my  vim,  I  was  con- 
stantly on  the  lookout  for  something  better  and  it  came  in  due 
time. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Fourth  Congress,  of  which  he 
was  a  prominent  member,  General  Houston,  in  the  spring  of  the 
same  year  (1840),  made  an  extensive  eastern  tour.  On  his  return 
to  our  city  in  the  summer  the  general,  with  his  beautiful  bride, 
nee  Margaret  Moffett  Lea,  made  a  considerable  sojourn  at  our 
home.  Fortunately,  at  the  time,  we  occupied  a  nice  two-story 
building  across  the  bayou,  with  ample  accommodations  for  our 
distinguished  guests.  And  their  visit  was  heartily  welcomed  and 
enjoyed  by  us. 

The  canvass  of  1840-41  in  Harris  County  was  never  forgotten 
by  those  who  participated  in  it.  This  was  my  first  experience 
as  a  candidate,  as  then  my  soldier  friends  determined  that  I 
should  come  out  for  the  clerkship. 

Outside  of  the  city  of  Houston  my  acquaintance  was  quite 
limited.  Win.  K.  Wilson,  a  deputy  sheriff,  who  also  made  the 
tax  assessments  over  the  entire  county,  was  a  tried  friend  of 
mine.  He  suggested  that  my  going  along  with  him  on  his 
assessing  tour  would  enable  him  to  give  me  a  large  acquaintance, 
and  at  the  proper  time  it  would  be  an  immense  advantage  in 
the  canvass.  Accepting  his  kind  office,  I  procured  a  small  but 
handsome  mule  of  a  sorrel  color,  and  in  a  quiet  way  left  Houston 
with  him  on  bis  rounds.  Upon  arriving  at  an  appointed  place, 
some  "king  bee's"  house,  we  would  find  the  tax-paying  citizens 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  99 


gathered  ready  to  be  assessed.  Wilson  would  spread  his  books, 
propound  the  necessary  questions,  and  give  the  information  de- 
sired, while  1  performed  the  clerical  work.  He  would  introduce 
me  to  every  man  and  woman  putting  in  an  appearance,  and  he 
would  whisper  to  them,  "You  see  what  a  quick  and  fine  clerk 
Lubbock  is?  He  may  be  a  candidate  for  district  clerk  at  the 
next  election,  and  if  he  is  you  should  all  support  him,  for  he 
will  make  us  the  proper  clerk."  In  this  pleasant  and  unobtru- 
sive manner  a  large  number  of  voters  became  my  friends  before 
January,  1841,  when  my  name  was  announced.  Two  strong 
and  popular  men  were  already  in  the  field.  One  was  Geo.  W. 
Lively,  the  other  Ed.  H.  Winfield,  who  had  been  acting  district 
clerk  from  the  organization  of  the  county. 

Canvassing  in  those  days  meant  travel,  labor,  excitement,  and 
some  fun.  It  was  expected  that  the  candidates  would  visit  every 
family  outside  of  the  city,  and  those  who  were  not  called  on 
really  felt  slighted,  and  in  some  instances  would  vote  against 
a  man  for  not  coming  to  see  them.  In  this  canvass,  at  one 
time  while  in  Houston,  Capt.  M.  E.  Gohene,  a  clever  fellow, 
living  forty  miles  from  the  courthouse,  remarked  that  he  in- 
tended to  give  his  vote  for  the  various  offices  to  the  first  candi- 
dates that  called  on  him.  The  very  first  time  I  could  leave  the 
city  without  notice  to  anyone  my  mule  was  mounted,  and  that 
long  ride  was  taken  all  alone.  Gohene  was  as  good  as  his  word; 
he  was  ever  after  the  friend  of  Lubbock,  and  he  had  influence. 

The  candidates  for  the  various  offices  would  start  out  in  com- 
pany sometimes  twelve  or  fifteen  strong.  They  would  strike  a 
country  settlement,  dividing  out  when  night  came  on.  They 
were  the  most  accommodating  set  of  fellows  in  the  world — will- 
ing to  do  anything  for  the  dear  people — and  it  was  not  infre- 
quent that  in  staying  over  night  the  voter  would  suggest,  "Well, 
boys,  I  want  to  go  to  mill  in  the  morning,"  and  he  would  give 
them  a  corn  shucking  and  shelling  party  during  their  stay.  I 
often  think  of  the  difference  then  and  now.  At  that  time  it 
was  quite  customary  for  the  candidates  to  place  with  some 
country  friend  at  the  neighborhood  store  a  barrel  of  whiskey 
each.  It  then  cost  from  eight  to  ten  dollars  a  barrel,  and  when 
a  voter  would  come  to  make  purchases,  he  would  be  asked  to 
take  a  drink  and  told  whose  liquor  he  drank.  In  those  days,  if 


100  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


he  took  your  liquor  it  was  deemed  that  he  was  your  supporter. 
They  say  the  custom  now  is  to  drink  the  other  man's  liquor,  I 
know  this  will  appear  dreadful  to  some,  but  really  there  was  less 
treating  and  drunkenness  then  than  there  is  now  under  the 
present  barroom  plan. 

A  candidate  was  expected  to  attend  every  ball  and  wedding 
in  the  county.  Generally  Lubbock  was  to  be  found  on  hand 
endeavoring  to  make  fair  weather  with  the  mothers  and  their 
girls,  knowing  that,  while  not  voters,  they  exercise  with  sensible 
men  a  potent  influence  in  elections  very  naturally.  Racing 
among  such  expert  horsemen  was  a  very  popular  pastime  and  of 
course  the  candidates  attended  them.  My  opponent  Lively  was 
a  good  business  man  and  fond  of  fun  and  popular.  He  had 
preceded  me  in  going  to  a  race  at  San  Jacinto,  a  small  town  in 
Harris  County  near  the  battleground.  As  I  rode  up  in  the 
crowd,  he  pushed  forward,  and  before  I  could  dismount  shook 
hands  with  me,  remarking  to  the  people:  "There  is  a  man  that 
never  took  a  chew  of  tobacco  in  his  life;  he,  however,  carries  his 
saddle  bags  full  for  electioneering  purposes.  Lubbock,  give 
me  a  chew."  I  replied  very  seriously:  "No,  sir;  you  can  not 
get  a  chew  of  my  tobacco.  You  should  not  only  have  brought 
a  full  supply  for  yourself,  but  for  your  friends.  I  have  a-plenty 
here."  Opening  my  saddle  bags  and  taking  out  a  package  of 
the  finest  quality,  all  cut  in  nice  pieces  ready  for  distribution, 
I  invited  the  crowd  to  pitch  in  and  help  themselves.  They  did 
so  with  a  hurrah  and  yell  for  Lubbock  that  made  the  prairie 
ring.  I  then  said  very  gravely:  "Lively,  you  should  always 
travel  with  plenty  of  tobacco.  It  gives  you  an  opportunity  to 
make  acquaintances;  for  it  is  at  all  times  permissible  to  stop  a 
stranger  and  ask  for  a  'chaw  of  terbacker'  and  making  acquain- 
tances is  what  a  candidate  wishes  to  do." 

The  canvass  throughout  was  a  very  heated  one,  particularly 
the  contest  for  sheriff,  M.  T.  Rodgers  and  Samuel  G.  Powell  be- 
ing the  principal  contestants.  In  this,  my  first  race  for  clerk, 
Lubbock  was  ahead  of  Lively,  who  was  next  to  him  with  220 
votes.  There  were  very  few  votes  between  Rodgers  and  Powell 
for  sheriff.  There  was  a  contest  over  the  last  office,  and  the 
court  decided  to  have  the  entire  ticket  revoted  for,  so  that  an- 
other active  canvass  ensued.  My  mule  trotted  me  through 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  101 


safely.  The  vote  for  district  clerk  stood  about  the  same,  and 
Lubbock  was  declared  elected. 

A  good  office  never  goes  begging,  so  in  the  course  of  time, 
some  folks  desiring  a  change,  a  particular  friend  of  mine  after 
many  apologies  said:  "My  friends  want  me  to  make  the  race 
for  district  clerk.  I  need  the  office  and  I  suppose  I  must  run. 
They  say  I  am  very  popular  and  they  believe  I  can  get  it.  I 
hope  it  will  make  no  difference  with  you."  I  replied,  "Certainly 
not,  friend  Walker;  that  is  your  privilege,  and  it  need  make 
no  difference  between  us."  So  the  campaign  was  made.  Every 
settlement  in  the  county  was  worked  by  both  of  us  for  all  it 
was  worth.  Lynchburg  was  then  the  strongest  box,  outside  of 
Houston.  He  had  long  resided  there,  and  his  great  friend 
Rodgers,  a  former  sheriff  and  very  popular,  lived  in  that  pre- 
cinct and  did  all  he  could  for  his  election.  Supposing  that  the 
Lynchburg  box  might  determine  the  election,  Houston  was 
given  over  to  our  friends  and  I  repaired  in  person  to  Lynchburg. 
My  opponent,  Walker,  his  friend  Rodgers,  and  others  were  there 
working  unceasingly.  I  had  some  of  the  best  workers  in  the 
county;  among  them  were  a  few  old  cattlemen  and  farmers.  At 
the  close  of  the  polls  the  tally  list  showed  nearly  200  votes 
polled.  Walker  and  I  both  watched  every  ballot  as  taken  from 
the  box  with  bated  breath.  I  can  never  forget  my  excited  and 
delighted  feeling  as  "Lubbock,"  "Lubbock,"  "Lubbock,"  came 
from  the  box  until  the  twenty-fifth  ballot,  which  was  for  my 
friend  and  opponent.  He  had  not  previously  made  a  remark, 
but  as  that  ballot  was  read,  "For  district  clerk,  Walker/'  draw- 
ing a  long  sigh  he  said:  "Well,  old  fellow,  you  are  a  good 
friend,  but  you  were  a  long  time  getting  out  of  that  box."  A 
heavy  majority  of  his  home  box  was  for  me,  and  I  was  again 
elected  by  a  large  majority. 

In  consequence  of  annexation  to  the  United  States  another 
election  came  on  before  my  second  term  expired,  the  terms  then 
being  for  four  years.  This  time  "Lubbock  had  to  go."  After 
searching  the  field  for  a  proper  man,  another  good  friend  of 
mine  wanted  the  office  and  he  was  selected  to  run.  That  was 
Mr.  A.  M.  Gentry.  He  was  intelligent  and  stood  well  in  the 
community.  A  committee  of  his  friends  arranged  the  cam- 
paign work.  In  their  rounds  they  called  on  my  friend  Walker, 


102  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


whom  I  had  defeated  before.  They  began  by  telling  him  they 
had  selected  Gentry  to  defeat  me  and  they  were  about  to  open 
up  their  plans  of  campaign.  Walker  stopped  them.  "Gentle- 
men, you  had  better  not  give  me  your  confidence."  "Why  not?" 
they  said.  "We  count  on  you  for  your  valuable  aid;  did  not 
Lubbock  defeat  you,  and  we  are  making  calculations  on  your 
hearty  support."  "Well,  gentlemen,  I  rather  think  I  am  a 
Lubbock  man;  lie  and  I  have  ever  been  good  friends.  I  was 
persuaded  that  my  popularity  was  immense,  and  I  was  led  to 
suppose  that  I  might  be  elected,  and  failed."  "Yes,"  said  they, 
"but  we  have  the  right  man  this  time."  Walker  replied:  "I 
made  the  race  against  Lubbock.  He  was  always  fair  with  me. 
Our  families  and  he  and  I  are  just  as  good  friends  as  we  were 
before,  and  I  think  I  will  vote  for  him.  I  have  another  reason 
—I  do  not  intend  to  assist  any  man  in  doing  what  I  could  not  do 
myself.  I  want  it  understood  that  I  am  a  popular  man  in  Har- 
ris County,  and  I  never  intend  to  let  any  man  beat  Frank 
Lubbock  if  I  can  prevent  it.  I  shall  vote  for  him  for  everything 
he  runs  for  as  long  as  I  live."  I  was  again  elected  and  re-elected 
— holding  the  office  for  over  sixteen  years.  Walker  lived  long 
enough  to  vote  for  me  for  several  offices.  His  widow  was  ever 
one  of  my  best  friends.  She  is  a  charming  lady,  and  now  re- 
sides at  Dallas. 

Scott  and  I,  while  we  were  in  the  firm  together,  were  very 
attentive  to  our  business,  and  at  the  same  time  we  took  great 
interest  in  public  affairs.  Before  my  first  race  for  district  clerk 
was  won,  I  began  to  think  of  the  presidential  candidates.  Those 
in  power  had  not  carried  on  the  government  to  the  satisfaction 
of  our  party,  and  we  intended  to  place  Houston  again  at  the 
helm  of  State.  Scott,  like  myself,  was  an  active  politician  and  a 
great  admiror  and  supporter  of  General  Houston. 

Ex-President  Houston  and  Ex-President  Burnet,  never  very 
good  friends  and  differing  widely  as  to  the  best  public  policies, 
were  the  opposing  candidates  for  the  presidency  in  1841.  In 
this  canvass  there  was  some  sectional  feeling  between  the  east 
and  the  west,  and  much  personal  asperity  between  the  candi- 
dates themselves.  Lamar's  administration  had  been  made  un- 
popular by  the  opposing  leaders,  and  Burnet,  who  had  been  to- 
wards its  close  the  de  facto  President,  was  made  the  scapegoat 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS  103 


of  the  sins  of  that  administration.  Besides,  Burnet,  though  a 
genial  gentleman,  patriot,  and  scholar,  was  no  match  for  Hous- 
ton in  personal  magnetism  or  oratorical  ability,  and  those  quali- 
ties counted  much  in  the  political  struggles  of  those  times. 
Backed  by  the  populous  east,  his  home,  Houston  beat  Burnet 
by  a  vote  of  7915  to  3616. 

At  a  large  meeting  of  the  friends  of  General  Houston  held  in 
the  city  of  Houston  pursuant  to  call,  April  15,  1841,  Dr.  Alexan- 
der Ewing  was  called  to  the  chair  and  Francis  R.  Lubbock  was 
appointed  secretary.  On  motion  a  committee  on  resolutions  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Francis  R.  Lubbock,  James  W.  Scott, 
George  Fisher,  Dr.  Wm.  M.  Carper,  and  Dr.  C.  H.  Jaeger. 

Mr.  Lubbock  reported  the  following  resolutions,  which  were 
adopted  enthusiastically: 

"Whereas,  a  doubt  exists  on  the  part  of  the  political  friends 
of  General  Houston,  as  to  the  willingness  of  the  Hon.  Henry 
Smith  to  be  considered  a  candidate  for  the  Vice-Presidency  of 
this  Republic  at  the  election  in  September  next;  and 

"Whereas  the  good  of  the  country  requires  a  union  of  action 
in  regard  to  the  election  for  Vice-President  and  the  nomination 
of  a  suitable  candidate  to  be  supported  for  said  office  with  effect 
by  the  political  friends  of  Gen.  Sam  Houston;  and 

"Whereas  several  candidates  are  already  nominated  for  said 
office;  therefore  to  insure  a  successful  issue  to  the  said  election 
by  the  majority  of  the  friends  of  General  Houston  in  electing  a 
man  of  their  choice  as  the  Vice-President  of  this  Republic,  who, 
in  case  of  being  called  by  the  Constitution  to  fill  temporarily  tlie 
executive  chair,  would  pursue  the  steps  and  carry  out  the  meas- 
ures of  Gen.  Houston;  therefore,  be  it 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  101  be  appointed  by  the 
chair  to  request  the  Hon.  Henry  Smith  to  allow  his  name  to  be 
placed  before  the  people  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Vice- 
President  of  this  Republic." 

The  committee  of  101  waited  upon  Henry  Smith  with  a  copy 
of  these  proceedings.  He  replied  May  1st,  declining  to  be  a 
candidate,  and  recommending  Dr.  Anson  Jones.  But  Dr.  Jones 
appeared  undecided  on  the  subject;  and  in  the  summer  of  1841, 
Dr.  A.  Ewing,  George  Fisher,  J.  N.  Morcland,  Thos.  G.  Western, 
and  myself,  confiding  in  the  ability  and  patriotism  of  Dr.  Jones, 


104  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


addressed  that  gentleman  a  joint  letter  urging  him  to  continue 
in  the  race  and  make  the  canvass  personally  for  the  Vice-Presi- 
dency; but  he  finally  dropped  out  of  the  race,  leaving  the  field 
open  to  Gen.  Ed.  Burleson,  who,  as  the  Houston  candidate,  was 
chosen  over  Memucan  Hunt  to  be  Vice-President  of  the  Re- 
public. 

"The  Republic  had  many  dangers  and  difficulties  to  encoun- 
ter through  its  entire  existence.  The  hostile  Indians  and  Mexi- 
cans had  to  be  provided  against  with  an  empty  treasury,  while 
European  recognition  was  to  be  constantly  sought.  The  public 
defense  was  fairly  well  conducted  under  the  circumstances,  and 
the  Republic  obtained  recognition  from  France  and  the  Nether- 
lands. Over  the  refusal  of  Congress  to  sanction  it,  Lamar  dis- 
patched an  expedition  to  Santa  Fe.  Its  object  was  to  extend 
the  jurisdiction  of  Texas  over  that  portion  of  the  Republic 
lying  east  of  the  upper  Rio  Grande,  our  western  boundary.  If 
the  people  of  that  region  were  willing,  the  authority  of  Texas 
was  to  be  established;  for  which  purpose  William  G.  Cooke, 
Dr.  Brenham,  and  J.  N.  Navarro  attended  as  commissioners. 
Should  the  people  there  be  found  hostile,  the  expedition  would 
return  after  disposing  of  the  merchandise  carried  along  for 
trade. 

The  expedition  consisted  of  about  300  men,  with  several  wag- 
ons and  one  piece  of  artillery  as  a  defense  against  hostile  Indians. 
The  commander  was  Gen.  Hugh  McLeod,  a  West  Pointer.  The 
party  got  bewildered  and  lost,  and  finally  .reached  the  vicinity 
of  Santa  Fe  in  a  starving  condition  and  the  whole  force  was 
betrayed  into  a  shameful  surrender  to  a  Mexican  army  by  one 
Captain  Lewis,  whose  treachery  appeared  later  on. 

My  brother  Tom,  ever  ready  to  volunteer  in  the  cause  of  his 
country  was  first  lieutenant  in  the  Santa  Fe  Pioneers,  of  which 
Radcliff  Hudson  was  captain  and  Volney  Ostrander  second  lieu- 
tenant. Tom's  sketch  of  the  expedition  is  found  in  the  appen- 
dix, with  account  of  the  sufferings  of  the  prisoners  and  his  own 
escape  from  a  prison  in  the  City  of  Mexico. 

Lamar  called  the  attention  of  the  Third  Congress  to  the 
clause  of  the  Constitution  on  education;  and  on  his  recom- 
mendation a  portion  of  the  public  lands  was  set  aside  for  public 
schools  and  a  university.  This  was  perhaps  Lamar's  most  popu- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  105 


lar  official  act,  and  it  is  well  appreciated  in  this  day  of  great 
advancement  on  educational  lines  from  common  schools  to  our 
great  State  University,  inclusive.  The  Texans  at  the  very  birth 
of  the  Republic  were  mindful  of  the  importance  of  an  educa- 
tional system.  But  no  step  had  been  before  taken  to  put  into 
effect  this  provision  of  the  Constitution. 

Houston's  treaty  with  the  Cherokees,  recognizing  their  right 
to  the  soil,  had  never  been  ratified  by  the  Texas  Senate.  Had 
it  been,  however,  the  subsequent  Cherokee  rebellion,  suppressed 
by  General  Rusk  while  Houston  was  President,  would  have  ab- 
solved the  Texans  from  its  obligations.  In  1839  a  small  party 
of  Mexicans  were  attacked  and  routed  on  Brushy  Creek,  near 
Austin,  and  among  their  effects  were  found  papers  disclosing  a 
treaty  made  at  Matamoros  between  certain  Cherokee  chiefs  and 
the  Mexicans  for  an  unceasing  wax  against  Texas.  Lamar 
promptly  ordered  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnston,  the  Secretary  of  War,  to 
take  steps  for  the  immediate  expulsion  of  the  Cherokees  from 
the  Republic.  Generals  Rusk  and  Douglass  marched  with  their 
forces  to  the  Cherokee  country;  but  before  resorting  to  force,  a 
commission  consisting  of  General  Johnston  himself,  ex-Presi- 
dent Burnet,  I.  W.  Burton,  and  James  S.  Mayfield  conferred 
with  the  Cherokee  chiefs,  offering  to  pay  the  Indians  for  their 
improvements,  but  insisting  on  their  exit  from  the  country.  On 
their  refusal  of  these  terms,  the  Indians  were  attacked  and 
routed,  leaving  in  their  flight  their  head  chief,  Bowles,  dead  on 
the  field.  Rid  of  these  treacherous  enemies  on  the  Sabine  fron- 
tier, Texas  was  now  better  enabled  to  guard  against  attacks  on 
the  Mexican  line. 

The  close  of  Lamar's  administration  witnessed  an  utter  col- 
lapse of  the  finances  and  credit  of  the  Republic,  and  an  immense 
public  debt.  Distrusting  the  financial  system  adopted  in  preced- 
ing administrations,  Lamar  had  urged  upon  Congress  a  money 
system  of  his  own  devising,  but  it  failed  to  be  adopted.  In 
apprehension  of  the  inevitable  collapse,  many  offices  were  abol- 
ished or  much  reduced  in  importance.  The  Navy  Department 
shrunk  into  a  bureau  in  charge  of  one  clerk  in  the  War  Office. 
The  Postal  Department  dwindled  into  a  bureau  styled  the  Gen- 
eral Postoffice,  in  charge  of  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
of  State.  The  office  of  Stock  Commissioner  fell  off  to  a  bureau 


106  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


styled  the  Stock  Office,  in  charge  of  a  clerk  in  the  Treasury  De- 
partment. The  offices  of  the  First  and  Second  Auditors  were 
consolidated.  The  offices  of  Quartermaster-General,  Commis- 
sary-General, Surgeon-General,  Adjutant,  and  Inspector-Gen- 
eral, were  all  abolished  and  their  duties  devolved  upon  two  clerks 
in  the  War  Office.  The  line  officers  also  in  the  army  and  navy 
were  greatly  reduced  in  number.  But  this  tardy  reform  was  not 
far-reaching  enough.  A  new  and  better  financial  system  was  re- 
quired. The  truth  is,  the  Republic,  with  her  less  than  50,000, 
had  always  been  top-heavy  in  officialism,  by  trying  to  follow  the 
example  of  the  United  States  with  their  15,000,000  souls. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  107 


CHAPTER  SIX. 

Some  Notable  Men  of  the  Republic:  W.  H.  Wharton,  E.  8.  C.  Robert- 
son, Edward  Burleson,  R.  M.  Williamson,  Robert  Wilson,  Richard 
Ellis,  Henry  Smith,  Emory  Raines,  Dr.  Alexander  Ewing,  Thos.  F. 
McKinney,  Sam  M.  Williams,  and  Wm.  L.  Hunter. 

William  H.  Wharton  was  a  prominent  figure  when  I  came  to 
Texas.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  Jared  Groce,  a  lawyer  of  promi- 
nence, a  man  of  fine  address,  and  one  of  the  early  commission- 
ers to  the  United  States  to  negotiate  a  loan  to  carry  on  the  war. 
He  had  at  that  early  day  a  comfortable  home  and  plantation 
a  few  miles  from  Velasco,  in  Brazoria  County.  His  door  was 
ever  open  to  the  stranger,  and  he  and  his  estimable  wife  dis- 
pensed to  all  the  greatest  hospitality.  Colonel  Wharton  was 
Minister  to  the  United  States  in  1836,  when  Santa  Anna  was  in 
Washington.  On  his  return  to  Texas  his  vessel  and  passengers 
were  captured  by  the  Mexicans.  But  he  escaped  after  wonderful 
adventures. 

Colonel  Wharton  was  a  Virginian,  coming  to  Texas  in  1829. 
He  was  killed  in  1839  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  his  pistol. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  during  the  Second  Congress, 
and  I  shall  never  forget  a  scene  I  witnessed  there.  Some  meas- 
ure was  being  discussed  with  great  earnestness.  Senator  Whar- 
ton was  one  of  the  principal  debaters.  Senator  John  Dunn,  an 
old  and  elegant  man,  representing  Refugio,  San  Patricio,  and 
Goliad — the  last  the  place  where  the  illustrious  Fannin  and  his 
men  had  been  massacred — was  opposing  the  views  of  Wharton 
and  appeared  to  annoy  the  senator  considerably.  In  a  replica- 
tion made  by  Wharton  to  the  remarks  of  Dunn,  the  senator  be- 
came quite  excited,  and  alluded  to  the  fact  that  he  (Dunn) 
represented  nobody  on  that  floor;  that  he  believed  he  was  there 
elected  to  the  Senate  by  some  three  votes,  and  very  patronizingly 
wished  to  know  whom  he  represented.  Senator  Dunn  replied 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  and  fire  of  an  Irish  patriot.  He  alluded 
to  the  safety  of  the  gentleman's  territory  and  his  home,  their 
prosperity,  their  population,  and  freedom  from  invasion,  and 
then  contrasted  the  condition  of  his  unfortunate  localitv,  their 


108  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


sufferings  and  privations,  their  people  slaughtered  by  the  Mexi- 
cans, and  closed  by  saying:  "I  will  have  this  Senate  and  the 
proud  and  arrogant  senator  from  Brazoria  to  understand  that 
I  stand  here  representing  the  bones  of  the  martyred  and  un- 
buried  dead." 

The  speech  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  me,  and  its  effect 
on  the  Senate  was  to  sustain  the  senator  who  was  elected  by 
three  votes  and  represented  the  bones  of  th  lamented  Colonel 
Fannin  and  his  men,  and  of  many  other  gallant  patriots  who 
resisted  the  invasion  of  Urrea. 

History  gives  a  touching  account  of  the  interment  of  the  vic- 
tims of  the  Goliad  massacre  by  General  Rusk  and  Gen.  Sidney 
Sherman  when  they  followed  the  Mexican  retreating  army  out 
of  the  country,  while  Santa  Anna  was  still  a  captive.  In  their 
graves  they  are  speaking  yet,  just  as  their  bones  were  repre- 
sented in  the  Senate  in  the  days  of  the  Republic. 

E.  S.  C.  Robertson  was  a  man  of  mark,  and  stood  out  promi- 
nently as  a  hardy  and  intelligent  pioneer.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  empresarios,  a  Tennesseean,  and  settled  what  was  known 
as  Robertson's  Colony.  It  seems  that  Robertson  first  came  from 
Tennessee  to  Texas  in  1823,  but  returned  and  did  not  come  back 
as  an  empresario  till  1830.  He  had  much  trouble  with  the 
Mexican  government  in  carrying  out  his  contract  for  colonizing 
his  territory.  Yet  he  ultimately  succeeded,  locating  many  fami- 
lies, for  which  he  received  large  and  valuable  grants  of  land. 
Colonel  Robertson  was  a  senator  in  the  First  Congress.  He  was 
quick,  earnest,  and  positive  in  speech  and  action,  not  particu- 
larly observant  of  parliamentary  law  and  rules.  I  remember 
happening  in  the  Senate  in  the  midst  of  some  discussion,  when 
a  senator  quite  vociferously  called  Senator  Robertson  to  order. 
He  paid  no  attention  to  the  call.  The  senator  continuing  to  in- 
terrupt his  speech  by  cries  of  "Order !  Order !"  he  stopped  his 
speech  but  continued  to  address  the  president  of  the  Senate, 
saying:  "Mr.  President,  T  am  called  to  order.  I  do  not  know 
that  I  am  out  of  order,  but  this  I  do  know,  I  will  not  come  to 
order  at  the  command  of  the  gentleman.  But,  Mr.  President,  if 
you  will  just  knock  that  little  hammer  down  on  me,  I  will  squat 
like  a  partridge." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  109 


Mr.  Robertson  died  in  the  county  which  bears  his  name  in  the 
spring  of  1842. 

General  Burleson,  of  San  Jacinto  fame,  and  well  known  both 
before  and  after  the  war  for  independence  as  a  brave  Indian 
fighter,  was  first  in  the  House  and  then  in  the  Senate  before  he 
was  elected  Vice-President.  I  remember  well  the  earnestness  and 
force  with  which  he  one  day  attacked  Rusk,  one  of  the  giants 
of  the  House.  He  had  up  before  the  House  a  bill  donating  lands 
to  the  soldiers.  He  had  gained  Rusk's  promise  to  the  support  of 
his  bill,  but  when  it  was  brought  in  and  Rusk  had  time  to  think 
over  the  matter  in  all  its  bearings,  he  not  only  voted  against  it, 
but  gave  his  reasons  as  a  statesman  why  he  could  not  support 
it.  This  was  enough  to  move  the  ire  of  any  man,  and  Burleson's 
towered  high.  In  his  indignation  he  coined  words  and  rolled 
them  out  to  express  his  contempt  of  the  gentleman  from  Nacog- 
doches  for  "backing  out"  of  his  promise,  and  he  carried  the 
House  against  Rusk  that  time.  General  Burleson  was  univer- 
sally recognized  as  one  of  the  first  men  of  Texas.  While  not 
well  educated  (he  would  murder  the  king's  English  some- 
times), his  good  strong  sense  and  excellent  judgment  and  pa- 
triotism were  acknowledged  by  all,  and  he  was  in  his  day  and 
time  strong  with  the  masses.  As  a  candidate  for  the  presidency 
against  Anson  Jones,  the  last  President  of  the  Republic,  his 
prospects  of  success  were  known  to  be  good,  and  had  not  General 
Houston  just  before  the  election  publicly  declared  for  Jones, 
throwing  his  influence  and  many  of  his  influential  friends  to 
him,  there  is  little  doubt  that  Burleson  would  have  been  Presi- 
dent in  1844.  Perhaps  no  man  in  Texas  at  that  period  had 
more  military  experience  than  Burleson.  He  commanded  the 
army  at  the  capture  of  Bexar  in  1835  and  led  the  First  Regi- 
ment at  San  Jacinto.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1798, 
and  died  at  Austin,  December,  1857. 

Hon.  R.  M.  Williamson,  known  as  "Three-legged  Willie,"  of 
the  First  Congress,  was  a  striking  character,  and  would  at  once 
impress  you  with  the  fact  that  he  was  no  ordinary  man.  You 
were  drawn  to  him  by  his  fine  powers  of  conversation  and  his 
brilliant  wit.  His  wonderful  satire  and  his  power  of  sarcasm 


HO  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


were  at  times  withering,  although  his  nature  seemed  genial  and 
kind.  In  Congress  he  was  recognized  as  an  honest  legislator, 
an  able  debater,  a  good  lawyer,  and  an  efficient  judge.  At  times 
he  was  full  of  fun,  had  many  amusing  passages  with  his  brother 
members,  and  was  always  respected  and  popular.  During  his 
term  there  were  three  Jones'  in  the  body :  John  B.  Jones  of  Gal- 
veston,  a  prominent  lawyer  and  an  upright  man  and  judge,  was 
a  large  man  and  had  an  immense  foot;  William  E.  Jones,  also  a 
distinguished  lawyer  and  judge,  was  impulsive,  earnest,  and  ex- 
citable; the  other  was  Simon  L.  Jones,  a  rattling,  jovial,  kind- 
hearted  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  Judge  Williamson  in  debate 
pleasantly  spoke  of  his  honest,  big-footed  friend  Jones  of  Gal- 
veston,  his  fiery  friend  Jones  of  Gonzales,  and  his  hell-roaring 
friend  Jones  of  San  Patricio. 

Williamson  came  to  Texas  from  Georgia  in  1827,  was  alcalde 
in  1834,  a  member  of  the  Consultation  in  1835,  district  judge 
the  next  year,  and  a  member  of  Congress  in  1840.  He  died  in 
Wharton  County  in  December,  1859. 

Robert  Wilson,  senator  from  the  district  of  Harrisburg  and 
Liberty  counties,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Harrisburg, 
on  Buffalo  Bayou.  He  is  supposed  to  have  brought  the  first 
steamboat,  the  Cayuga,  that  navigated  Galveston  Bay.  He  was 
also  interested  in  the  first  steam  sawmill  in  the  country.  This 
was  destroyed  by  Santa  Anna  as  his  army  passed  down  to  San 
Jacinto.  While  in  the  Senate,  and  at  a  time  when  the  finances 
of  the  country  were  in  a  very  bad  condition,  certain  banks  in 
Mississippi  made  propositions  to  loan  Texas  their  bank  issue, 
and  the  matter  was  discussed  in  secret  session.  Senator  Wilson 
opposed  the  proposition,  denouncing  the  banks  as  in  a  failing 
condition,  and  asserting  that  Texas  would  be  swindled  if  she 
borrowed  and  put  their  money  into  circulation.  He  was  an  up- 
right, enterprising  citizen,  and  had  acquired  large  properties  in 
this  section,  and  being  a  business  man  was  a  representative  of 
that  class.  So  while  he  was  hot  under  the  collar  at  the  prospect 
of  the  threatened  financial  ruin,  he  used  very  unparliamentary 
language  toward  his  brother  senators,  and,  defying  the  sergeant- 
at-arms,  made  quite  a  scene,  and  afterwards  on  the  outside,  be- 
ing a  jovial  companion  and  great  talker,  said  too  much  about 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  Ill 


what  was  going  on  in  secret  session.  For  these  reasons,  which 
the  records  of  the  Senate  will  show,  he  was  arraigned  and  his 
seat  declared  vacant.  The  people  of  Houston  and  his  district 
generally  became  indignant  at  his  expulsion,  and  when  an  elec- 
tion was  ordered  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  ten  days,  by  an  over- 
whelming vote  they  returned  "Honest  Bob,"  as  he  was  famil- 
iarly called.  On  the  day  that  he  was  to  take  his  seat  his  con- 
stituents procured  a  large  carriage,  seated  the  senator-elect  in 
it,  and,  ignoring  horses,  pulled  it  by  hand  to  the  capitol  amid 
the  shouts  and  hurrahs  of  the  multitude.  He  stood  up  in  the 
carriage  to  make  them  a  little  speech  before  he  should  enter,  and 
in  conclusion  he  said :  "My  friends,  you  make  me  a  great  man 
in  spite  of  myself."  He  was  then  borne  from  the  carriage  upon 
their  shoulders  into  the  capitol,  when  the  sergeant-at-arms 
again  tried  his  hands  upon  him,  being  ordered  by  the  president 
of  the  Senate  to  arrest  Mr.  Wilson  and  the  person  who  played 
the  bugle  and  the  ringleaders  of  the  mob  that  were  interrupting 
the  Senate  in  its  deliberations.  He  was  not  brought  before  the 
Senate  under  arrest,  however,  until  next  day,  when  the  sheriff, 
to  whom  a  writ  had  been  directed,  brought  up  the  prisoners. 
The  ringleaders  were  sentenced  to  imprisonment  for  one  day 
and  Mr.  Wilson  to  a  reprimand.  Then  it  was  all  over  and  the 
senator-elect  took  his  seat,  and,  as  in  the  years  past,  went  on 
legislating  for  the  country. 

Upon  one  occasion,  being  asked  if  he  really  deserved  the  ap- 
pellation of  "Honest  Bob,"  Senator  Wilson  replied:  "I  am  al- 
ways as  honest  as  the  circumstances  of  the  case  and  the  condi- 
tion of  the  country  will  allow." 

After  the  Houston  party  failed  to  place  a  candidate  in  the 
field  against  General  Lamar  for  the  presidency,  Mr.  Wilson,  as 
usual  deciding  for  himself,  became  a  candidate  just  before  the 
election.  A  party  of  gentlemen,  I  among  the  number,  were 
questioning  him  as  to  his  policy  should  he  be  elected,  and  said : 
"Tell  us,  please,  with  whom  will  you  surround  yourself  as  ad- 
visers in  case  of  your  election?"  He  replied:  "It  would  cer- 
tainly be  indelicate  and  indiscreet  to  make  an  intimation,  but,'' 
waving  his  hand  around  the  circle,  remarked,  "Should  I  be 
elected,  rest  satisfied  it  would  be  just  such  men  as  you  that  I 
would  call  around  me."  This  time  he  was  as  honest  as  the  cir- 


112  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


cumstances  of  the  case  and  the  condition  of  the  country  would 
allow. 

Mr.  Wilson  came  to  Texas  in  1828,  participated  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Bexar,  and  died  in  Houston  in  1856. 

In  the  journals  of  the  Senate  is  recorded  an  incident  illus- 
trating the  chaotic  condition  of  the  northeastern  boundary  line 
of  Texas  and  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  establishing  a  govern- 
ment on  a  substantial  basis.  They  had  to  cut  out  of  whole  cloth 
without  knowing  how  many  yards  the  bolt  contained.  It  relates 
to  the  Hon.  Richard  Ellis  of  Red  River. 

A  protest  against  the  vote  that  seated  Mr.  Ellis  was  sent  in 
by  Senators  William  H.  Wharton,  John  Dunn,  I.  W.  Burton, 
and  S.  H.  Everett,  who  wished  to  record  why  they  voted  against 
the  seating  of  the  senator  from  Red  River,  "that  posterity  and 
all  the  world  may  know  the  course  we  have  taken  in  this  matter 
and  the  motives  which  induced  it.  We  protest,  first,  on  the 
grounds  that  the  United  States  of  the  North  exercise  at  this 
moment  actual  and  exclusive  jurisdiction,  civil  and  military, 
over  the  country  which  the  honorable  gentleman  claims  to  rep- 
resent," etc.,  etc. ;  "secondly,  we  protest  against  said  seat  on  the 
ground  that  the  county  of  Red  River  has  never  been  organized 
in  accordance  with  the  requisition  of  the  laws  of  the  Republic," 
etc.,  etc. ;  "thirdly,  we  solemnly  protest  on  the  ground  that  we 
are  not  fully  satisfied  that  the  honorable  gentleman  is  a  citizen 
of  this  Republic." 

After  all  this,  Mr.  Ellis  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Senate,  was  even  made  president,  and  to-day  we 
know,  if  these  four  intelligent  contemporaries  did  not,  that  he 
represented  a  garden  spot  in  Texas. 

Mr.  Ellis  represented  Red  River  in  the  convention  that  de- 
clared the  independence  of  Texas,  and,  moreover,  he  was  presi- 
dent of  that  body.  It  would  appear  that  these  objections  to 
recognizing  Red  River  County  as  a  part  of  the  Republic  were 
presented  rather  late. 

Mr.  Ellis  came  to  Texas  from  Alabama  in  1833,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Congress,  and  died  in  1849. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


113 


As  Comptroller  during  Houston's  first  term.  I  was  closely 
connected  with  the  Treasury  Department,  the  head  of  which 
was  Gov.  Henry  Smith.  He  was  not  only  one  of  the  earliest 
advocates  of  Texan  independence,  but  he  was  in  the  first  clash 
of  arms  at  Velasco.  He  was  elected  Governor  of  the  Provi- 
sional Government  by  the  Consultation  previous  to  the  govem- 


HENRY  SMITH. 


ment  ad  interim  under  President  Burnet.  Smith  was  a  presi- 
dential candidate  in  1836  with  Austin  and  Houston,  but  re- 
ceived only  a  nominal  vote.  By  President  Houston  he  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  serving  the  entire  term. 

He  gave  me  several  evidences  of  his  friendship,  particularly 
at  the  time  I  wished  to  go  on  the  Bonnell  expedition.  The  Presi- 
dent consulted  with  him  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  he 
promptly  consented  to  my  having  a  leave  of  absence. 

My  intimate  association  with  Governor  Smith  led  me  to  ad- 


114  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


mire  his  sterling  worth,  his  pronounced  patriotism,  and  his  abil- 
ity as  an  executive  officer. 

Smith  was  a  native  Kentuckian,  but  came  from  Missouri  to 
Texas  in  1821;  was  a  school  teacher  in  Brazoria  County,  1827- 
1830;  a  member  of  the  Convention  in  1833.  In  1849  he  emi- 
grated to  California,  where  he  died  in  1853. 

Emory  Raines  represented  the  counties  of  Shelby  and  Sabine 
in  the  Senate  of  the  Second  and  Third  Congresses.  I  remember 
him  as  a  tall,  dark,  angular,  and  muscular  man,  presenting  the 
appearance  of  a  sturdy  frontiersman.  He  was  one  of  our  early 
congressmen  who  did  not  have  the  advantage  of  an  education 
in  his  boyhood,  many  of  them  being  college  men.  Like  Andy 
Johnson,  however,  he  married  an  intelligent  lady,  who  taught 
nim  to  read.  But  he  certainly  possessed  shrewdness,  intelli- 
gence, and  energy,  as  he  was  elected  to  Congress  over  an  able 
and  popular  competitor;  and,  besides  serving  on  several  other 
committees,  finally  became  chairman  of  the  judiciary  commit- 
tee, and  the  Senate  then  included  among  its  members  such  men 
as  W.  H.  Wharton,  Ellis,  Everett,  and  Robertson. 

Raines  voted  "No"  so  uniformly  as  to  excite  notice,  and  when 
questioned  as  to  the  reason,  replied  that  if  a  -measure  proved 
popular  no  one  cared  to  investigate  the  negative  vote,  but  if  it 
turned  out  to  be  unpopular,  those  on  the  negative  side  would 
win  renown  for  statesmanship.  A  politician's  idea  this,  not  yet 
wholly  extinct.  As  most  of  the  legislation  of  the  world  has  al- 
ways been  and  is  now  bad,  the  negative  is  the  safer  side. 

Judge  Raines  was  an  alcalde  under  the  Mexican  regime,  and 
hence  his  English  title  of  judge.  He  always  claimed  to  be  the 
author  of  the  homestead  exemption  law.  In  later  years  he 
dropped  the  "e"  in  his  name,  spelling  it  "Rains."  He  came  to 
Texas  in  1818  from  Tennessee,  settling  in  the  Sabine  country. 
He  died  in  the  little  county  that  bears  his  name  in  1878. 

Dr.  Alexander  Ewing,  surgeon-general  of  the  army  of  the 
Republic-  of  Texas,  located  in  Houston  at  an  early  day.  An 
Irishman,  young,  handsome,  black-haired  and  blue-eyed,  of  fine 
presence,  a  graduate  of  the  Edinburgh  Medical  School,  he  was 
kind,  liberal,  active,  and  devoted  to  his  profession,  and  soon  en- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  115 


deared  himself  to  the  people  of  our  city.  He  was  our  family 
physician  from  the  time  he  arrived. 

It  was  he  who  told  me  of  the  necessity  or  great  advantage 
of  taking  coffee  before  going  out  into  the  dew  or  early  morning 
air  in  the  malarial  district.  He  said :  "Always  take  coffee  as 
soon  as  you  rise,  and  give  it  to  your  negroes  if  they  are  to  go  to 
the  field  before  eating  their  breakfast.  Do  this,  and  you  will 
never  have  chills  and  fever."  For  more  than  fifty  years  I  have 
pursued  this  course,  and  have  never  had  chills  and  fever  in  my 
family,  although  living  the  most  of  that  time  upon  the  coast  of 
Texas. 

During  his  lifetime  that  terrible  scourge  yellow  fever  fre- 
quently visited  our  coast.  In  the  days  I  am  speaking  of  it  was 
very  severe  at  Houston.  His  practice  was  extensive  in  those 
times  of  distress,  even  burdensome.  The  unacclimated,  or  the 
largest  number  of  those  able  to  do  so,  would  flee  from  the  in- 
fected districts,  leaving  behind  only  those  who  were  acclimated 
or  determined  to  brave  it  out.  Hence  it  was  that  all  who  were 
not  afraid  of  the  disease  were  called  upon  for  assistance.  At 
such  times,  having  a  good  horse,  I  would  place  myself  at  the 
disposal  of  my  doctor,  go  with  him,  receive  the  prescriptions, 
have  them  put  up  by  the  apothecary,  and  distribute  them  to  the 
various  patients.  No  one  unless  he  has  passed  through  a  yellow 
fever  epidemic  can  appreciate  the  distress  attending  it.  At 
times  more  than  half  of  the  population  were  suffering  with  the 
fever,  with  death  rate  running  from  25  to  50  per  cent  of  the 
population.  Sometimes  entire  families  were  swept  away.  In 
one  epidemic,  nine  cases  out  of  ten  of  the  patients  after  a  few 
hours  became  entirely  delirious,  requiring  the  greatest  care  and 
watchfulness  to  keep  them  in  their  beds.  The  general  disposi- 
tion was  to  rise  and  run  from  the  house,  and  in  most  instances 
where  they  took  cold  they  would  die. 

For  a  long  time,  however,  with  quarantine  laws  strictly  en- 
forced, it  would  seem  that  our  State  is  free  from  the  dreaded 
disease.  Since  1867  we  have  been  free  from  a  yellow  fever  epi- 
demic in  Houston  and  Galveston.  The  more  extensive  use  of 
cistern  water  no  doubt  deserves  some  of  the  credit  for  this  im- 
provement a?  well  as  quarantine  and  sanitary  measures,  for 
when  we  had  yellow  fever  in  the  country  it  was  much  lighter 


110  LUBB OCX'S  MEMOIRS. 


where  it  was  used  instead  of  other  water.  In  these  times  of  dis- 
tress I  was  near  Dr.  Ewing,  and  learned  to  appreciate  the  ad- 
mirable traits  of  the  man,  and  I  loved  him  devotedly. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  in  Houston  I  was  not  aware  that  my 
friend  was  seriously  ill.  At  the  very  hour  I  was  in  the  court- 
house delivering  an  address  before  the  Masonic  fraternity,  one  of 
our  brothers  entered  and  announced  the  death  of  Dr.  Ewing,  a 
brother  Mason  and  a  member  of  our  lodge.  I  was  greatly 
affected  by  the  sudden,  unexpected,  and  sorrowful  intelligence, 
and  at  once  went  off  in  an  impromptu  eulogy  on  the  man  1  loved 
so  well,  and  sat  down. 

After  the  ceremonies  Mrs.  Judge  Peter  W.  Gray,  a  most  in- 
telligent and  accomplished  lady,  said  to  me :  "Your  effort  on 
Dr.  Ewing's  death  is  what  I  call  true  eloquence."  It  was  the 
first  time  I  had  ever  been  told  that  I  could  say  anything  elo- 
quent. I  appreciated  it  very  much,  emanating  from  the  source 
it  did.  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith  succeeded  Dr.  Ewing  as  surgeon- 
general  of  the  Texan  army  in  the  summer  of  1837. 

Col.  Thomas  F.  McKinney,  of  the  firm  of  McKinney  &  Wil- 
liams, was  a  large  merchant  at  Quintana  in  the  early  days.  He 
was  a  Kentuckian,  but  came  from  Missouri  to  Texas,  and  he 
was  indeed  a  patriotic  Texan.  A  brave,  high-spirited  man,  his 
whole  soul  was  in  the  cause  of  the  Republic.  He  and  his  part- 
ner, S.  M.  Williams,  aided  most  materially  in  sustaining  the 
government  in  her  darkest  financial  troubles. 

It  was  with  them  that  I  found  my  brother,  T.  S.  Lubbock, 
at  work  upon  my  arrival,  and  I  made  their  establishment  the 
storage  place  for  my  merchandise.  Thus  he  was  one  of  my  first 
acquaintances.  I  found  him  a  pleasant  companion  and  hospita- 
ble, making  everyone  welcome  that  visited  him.  He  was  an  un- 
excelled marksman  with  his  old-time  Kentucky  rifle.  I  was 
struck  with  his  quickness  and  accuracy  while  making  a  trip  with 
him.  He  was  the  first  person  that  I  ever  saw  shooting  squirrels 
through  the  head  with  a  rifle  while  running.  He  was  also  a 
superior  horseman,  and,  like  all  Kentuckians,  fond  of  fine 
horses.  He  bred  during  his  later  years  fine  blooded  animals  for 
the  turf.  He  was  held  in  great  esteem  by  those  who  knew  him 
best. 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  117 


McKinney  once  represented  Travis  County  in  the  Legislature. 
He  died  on  Onion  Creek,  in  that  county,  in  1873. 

Sam  M.  Williams,  of  the  firm  of  McKinney  &  Williams,  was  a 
native  of  Baltimore.  He  was  Austin's  Colonial  Secretary,  and 
performed  his  duties  to  the  almost  universal  satisfaction.  Later 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Thomas  F.  McKinney,  and  this 
firm  was  the  mainstay  of  the  Republic  in  her  early  financial 
struggles.  Williams  was  the  first  and  only  president  of  "The 
Commercial  and  Agricultural  Bank  of  Galveston/'  beginning  in 
1846.  He  died  in  1858  at  Galveston. 

Judge  William  L.  Hunter,  a  native  of  Virginia,  came  to 
Texas  in  1835  with  the  New  Orleans  Grays.  My  brother,  T.  S. 
Lubbock,  and  himself  formed  a  close  friendship  in  their  soldier 
days  which  lasted  through  life.  He  came  to  Houston  soon  after 
I  located  there,  and  through  my  brother's  fondness  for  him  I 
became  well  acquainted  with  and  much  attached  to  him.  From 
his  mouth  I  received  an  account  of  the  horrible  butchery  of  Fan- 
nin  and  his  men  at  Goliad.  He  was  one  of  the  eighteen  belong- 
ing to  the  New  Orleans  Grays  who  had  joined  Fannin  at  that 
place,  and  one  of  the  two  of  that  number  who  escaped  from  it 
with  his  life. 

There  this  brave  commander,  surrounded  by  difficulties,  strug- 
gled for  weeks  to  do  his  duty  in  protecting  the  settlers'  families, 
in  furnishing  a  base  for  the  detachments  sent  out  on  various 
expeditions,  and  in  supporting  the  line,  a  part  of  which  was 
formed  by  the  gallant  defenders  of  the  Alamo.  They  deter- 
mined "never  to  surrender  nor  retreat,"  and  had  thrown  down 
the  gauntlet  of  defiance  to  their  enemies,  and  with  an  appeal  for 
aid  to  their  friends,  awaited  the  issue. 

Travis  took  orders  from  Gov.  Henry  Smith,  and  Fannin  from 
the  Council ;  but  the  same  spirit  animated  both — the  spirit  to  do 
or  die  for  their  country  in  this  her  sorest  hour  of  need. 

Santa  Anna,  threatening  direst  vengeance,  with  his  army  had 
entered  Texas  through  Presidio  on  his  way  to  San  Antonio,  and 
on  the  23d  of  February  of  this  year,  1836,  had  summoned  the 
garrison  of  the  Alamo  to  surrender.  General  TJrrea  through 
Matamoros  had  marched  one  division  along  the  coast  toward 


118  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Goliacl,  capturing  San  Patricio  on  the  28th  of  February.  From 
this  place  came  the  first  news  of  his  invasion  to  Fannin,  and 
just  about  the  same  time  the  arrival  of  Col.  James  Butler  Bon- 
ham  brought  to  him  the  message  of  the  terrible  extremity  of  the 
garrison  in  the  Alamo.  He  had  more  to  do  than  man  could 
accomplish  with  his  resources.  He  sent  detachments  out  to  look 
after  families.  He  essayed  to  go  to  the  relief  of  Travis,  when  his 
gun  carriage  broke  down  and  he  was  delayed  until  he  received 
the  news  of  the  further  advance  of  General  Urrea,  who  was  visit- 
ing summary  vengeance  upon  all  detachments  captured,  scarcely 
leaving  a  man  to  tell  the  tale.  Making  at  one  and  the  same  time 
preparations  to  receive  an  attack  upon  Goliad  and  to  retreat 
from  the  place,  he  heard  of  the  fall  of  the  Alamo,  and  fought 
with  desperation  when  he  was  attacked  just  outside  of  the  town 
at  Colito  by  Urrea's  men  in  great  force.  Wounded  in  the  battle 
and  compelled  to  surrender,  he  made  good  terms  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, which  were  that  his  men  should  be  treated  as  pris- 
oners of  war,  the  privates  sent  to  the  United  States,  and  the  offi- 
cers paroled. 

After  an  imprisonment  of  several  days  in  the  old  mission  at 
Goliad,  the  privates  were  marched  out  on  Sunday,  March  27th, 
to  be  sent  off  to  their  homes,  as  they  thought,  when  to  their 
horror  they  discovered  it  was  to  be  shot  by  order  of  Santa  Anna, 
with  the  entire  command,  officers  and  men,  about  four  hun- 
dred in  number.  Those  who  were  not  killed  were  very  few,  and 
Hunter's  escape  was  miraculous  under  the  circumstances.  He 
had  passed  through  the  fiery  ordeal  as  one  of  the  volunteers  in 
the  storming  of  Bexar  and  capture  of  Cos'  command.  He  was 
cool  and  brave,  and  promptly  made  up  his  mind  what  to  do. 
The  Mexicans  generally  aimed  very  high  and  their  guns  were 
Dot  very  true.  Counting  on  this,  he  determined  when  the  firing 
began,  to  fall  as  if  shot,  taking  the  chances.  He  lay  as  dead,  in- 
tending after  night  set  in,  if  not  injured,  to  escape  from  the 
field  of  slaughter.  The  Grays  had  not  been  long  from  New 
Orleans,  and  were  well  clothed.  He  had  on  a  good  black  silk 
cravat.  The  Mexicans  relieved  him  of  his  boots  and  then  took 
a  fancy  to  his  cravat,  and  as  they  proceeded  to  untie  it,  he, 
thinking  they  were  about  to  cut  his  throat,  drew  a  quick  breath. 
Immtdately  they  cried  "Xo  muerto  !  No  muerto  !"  (not  dead,  not 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  119 


dead),  and  at  once  commenced  bayoneting  him.  He  still  played 
dead  on  them,  and  they,  after  inflicting  thirteen  distinct  wounds 
upon  his  body,  left  him  for  dead.  After  dark,  not  being  able  to 
stand  and  walk,  he  crawled  away  from  the  field  of  blood.  After 
great  suffering,  and  with  nothing  to  eat,  living  only  on  the  dew 
from  the  grass,  on  the  third  day  he  reached  a  house,  where  he 
was  cared  for  and  ultimately  recovered.  He  said  to  me,  "Frank, 
I  will  never  try  to  'play  possum'  again." 

He  settled  at  Goliad,  near  the  scene  of  the  dreadful  slaughter 
from  which  he  so  miraculously  escaped,  and  was  at  one  time  a 
representative  from  Goliad  and  for  years  the  county  judge  of 
that  county. 


120  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  SEVEN. 

Method  of  Business  in  the  Clerk's  Office  — My  Fondness  for  Horses  — 
Purchase  of  a  Ranch  and  Stocking  It  — Removal  to  My  Ranch  in  1847 
—  Our  Neighbors  —  Agricultural  Work  and  Stockraising — A  Round- 
up, Incidents  in  the  Life  of  a  Cowboy  — The  Laziest  Man  in  Texas  — 
My  Negro  Stockmen  — As  a  Cattle  Baron  — The  Cattle  Trade  Then 
and  Now. 

On  entering  upon  my  duties  as  district  clerk  of  Harris  County 
I  determined  to  give  the  office  strict  attention,  to  gain  the  ap- 
proval of  the  people,  the  confidence  of  the  presiding  judge,  and 
the  friendship  of  the  lawyers,  at  that  early  day,  as  now,  a  very 
strong  class  of  men.  They  came  from  many  other  counties,  and 
even  from  foreign  governments.  I  also  laid  down  the  rule  that  I 
would  never  shave  or  speculate  in  a  witness'  or  juror's  certificate. 
If  the  county  could  not  pay  the  cash  someone  else  might  do  the 
shaving;  and  I  would  never  sell  property  for  my  fees.  Neither 
would  I  send  a  man  to  prison  because  of  his  failure  to  pay  them. 
In  a  word,  as  I  was  opposed  upon  principle  to  an  officer  specu- 
lating in  any  way  in  the  things  presenting  themselves  by  reason 
of  his  office,  I  decided  to  do  nothing  of  the  kind.  This  rule  I 
have  strictly  observed  in  every  position  I  have  occupied  through 
life.  Further,  as  I  have  always  felt  that  the  people  conferred 
position  on  me  and  enabled  me  to  provide  for  myself  and  family 
by  my  labor  for  them,  I  would  endeavor  to  treat  them  generously 
under  all  circumstances.  I  spent  my  own  money  liberally,  but 
I  was  extravagant  in  horses.  Sometimes  I  would  hear  this  from 
enemies,and  at  times  my  friends  would  badger  me  on  the  subject. 
There  was  in  Houston  a  good,  honest  carpenter,  Tom  Bailey, 
•who  opposed  my  election  upon  the  ground  that  when  comp- 
troller I  put  on  style  and  closed  my  office  promptly  at  4  p.  m., 
and  no  one  could  have  business  attended  to  later.  The  fact  was 
he  did  considerable  fitting  up  about  the  capitol  and  he  would 
come  after  office  hours,  while  that  summer  I  was  living  about 
four  miles  in  the  country,  and  generally  closed  the  office  and 
left  town  promptly  at  4  p.  m.,  and  he  was  disappointed  a  time 
or  two  in  getting  his  accounts  approved.  So  he  would  say, 


LUE  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  121 


"Don't  vote  for  Lubbock.  He  will  buy  him  a  horse  and  buggy, 
put  on  style,  and  if  you  are  a  few  minutes  after  time  you  will 
never  get  your  work  done." 

However,  Bailey  was  mistaken.  My  business  was  attended  to 
promptly  and  well,  and  if  I  spent  money  on  horses  it  was  my 
own  money,  and  if  I  did  ride  them  it  was  in  my  own  time  and  not 
in  the  people's.  But  my  weak  point  was  horses,  and  in  that 
direction  I  was  prodigal.  At  the  time  I  was  on  my  Allen  Vince 
farm  I  owned  a  $500  horse.  I  remember  one  day  riding  him 
into  Houston  and  coming  on  a  knot  of  our  business  men,  all 
friends  of  mine — W.  J.  Hutchings,  T.W.  House,  B.  A.  Shepherd, 
John  Kennedy,  and  others.  I  saluted  them  and  dismounted. 
We  engaged  at  once  in  a  rambling,  friendly  talk.  Shepherd 
said:  "Well,  Frank,  you  will  ride  a  fine  horse.  The  fact  is  you 
ride  a  horse  good  enough  for  a  rich  man."  I  spoke  up:  "Yes, 
gentlemen,  but  you  know  we  all  have  our  little  weaknesses. 
Some  men  throw  away  their  money  on  unfortunate  speculations, 
some  on  cards,  some  on  wine,  some  on  women,  and  some  on 
horses.  I  spend  mine  on  fine  horses.  I  love  them,  and  make  them 
useful.  I  acknowledge,  my  friends,  that  I  have  sometimes  come 
up  to  town  on  that  very  horse  bringing  my  wallets  with  me  to 
take  back  two  or  three  dollars'  worth  of  sugar  and  coffee  and 
flour,  and  have  gone  back  with  them  empty,  as  I  failed  in  collec- 
tions, and  did  not  wish  to  let  you  know  I  was  so  bad  off  as  to  ask 
you  to  put  so  small  an  amount  on  your  books.  I  would  have 
been  willing  to  call  on  you  and  you  would  have  been  only  too 
glad  to  credit  me  for  a  barrel  of  flour  or  sugar  or  a  sack  of  coffee; 
but  that  amount  would  have  broken  up  your  stock.  So  you  see 
I  was  prudent  for  myself  and  considerate  to  you  when  I  did  not 
ask  you  for  so  much." 

These  men  were  all  my  good  friends,  and  they  appreciated  the 
joke  about  their  limited  capital.  By  prudence  and  intelligence, 
strict  attention  to  business,  and  unimpeachable  integrity,  they 
soon  were  in  the  first  rank  of  business  men.  They  all  became 
wealthy,  lived  respected  and  beloved,  and  died  regretted  by  the 
people  who  knew  them.  Wiliam  M.  Eice  got  his  start  in 
business  about  the  same  time  with  them,  and  today  he  is  endow- 
ing a  magnificent  library  for  the  city  where  more  than  a  half 
century  ago  he  came  to  seek  his  fortune. 


122  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


I  must  speak  of  our  life  on  a  ranch  and  why  I  became  a 
ranchero  during  the  time  of  my  clerkship.  After  February, 
1841,  there  was  much  litigation,  and  while  the  fees  were  quite 
liberal  money  was  very  scarce,  so  that  in  1846  there  was  due  the 
clerk's  office  a  large  amount.  Upon  presentation  of  their  costs 
bill  the  farmers  and  stockraisers  would  tender  cows,  ponies,  hogs, 
and  sheep  in  payment.  The  question  then  occurred  to  me,  what 
could  a  man  living  in  the  town  do  with  such  things  ?  To  avail 
anything,  land  suitable  for  a  ranch  must  be  secured. 

Upon  consultation  with  my  friend,  Judge  Andrew  Briscoe,  I 
purchased  of  him,  as  the  agent  of  the  Harris  heirs,  about  400 
acres  of  land  at  75  cents  per  acre,  on  the  south  side  of  "Simms' 
Bayou,"  and  six  miles  from  the  city  of  Houston.  After  deciding 
to  start  a  ranch,  the  subject  was  opened  up  to  my  friend  Judge 
Patrick  C.  Jack,  the  presiding  judge  over  the  court  of  which  I 
was  clerk.  He  was  quite  disgusted  with  the  cattle  business, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  early  settlers  had  many  law- 
suits, both  criminal  and  civil,  in  consequence  of  the  cattle  run- 
ning so  much  on  a  common  range,  and  the  crimination  and 
recrimination  in  regard  to  branding  them.  Thus  when  he  dis- 
cussed my  contemplated  enterprise  he  had  many  objections  to 
urge  against  it.  After  giving  many  reasons  why  I  should  not 
embark  in  the  business  he  said:  "Lubbock,  you  are  a  young 
man;  your  reputation  is  good;  you  are  getting  along  remarka'bly 
well;  you  are  popular,  with  no  breath  of  scandal  against  you. 
Go  into  the  cattle  business,  and  in  less  than  six  months  you  will 
be  charged  with  stealing  cattle  and  branding  calves  not  your 
own,  and  you  will  not  only  be  charged  with  it,  but  very  likely 
they  will  prove  it  on  you.  Do  not  go  into  it;  the  business  is 
not  respectable."  After  rebutting  his  arguments  as  thoroughly 
as  I  could  I  finally  said :  "I  believe,  judge,  I  will  go  into  the 
business  to  give  it  respectability." 

So  that  enterprise  was  put  on  foot.  I  hired  an  intelligent  boy, 
Henry  Dillard,  for  my  stockman,  put  up  a  cabin  on  my  land, 
and  at  once  commenced  stocking  it  in  a  small  way  with  the  cattle 
which  the  farmers  and  others  very  promptly  tendered. 

At  the  first  court  after  starting  the  ranch  there  was  a  large 
number  of  indictments  brought  in.  After  being  first  submitted 
to  the  judge  they  were  handed  to  the  clerk  for  filing.  After 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  123 


court  adjourned,  the  judge  playfully  remarked  to  the  lawyers 
and  bystanders,  "Did  you  notice  how  anxious  and  nervous  the 
clerk  appeared  to-day  while  examining  the  bills  presented  by  the 
grand  jury?  It  seemed  to  me  that  he  feared  he  might  discover 
his  name  in  the  batch." 

I  was  of  course  quite  gratified  to  find  no  bill  against  F.  R. 
Lubbock,  and  I  am  still  more  gratified  to  say,  after  running 
the  business  for  over  twenty  years,  that  I  never  did  have  a  dis- 
agreement with  a  neighbor  growing  out  of  a  cattle  transaction. 

A  deputy  clerk  was  necessary,  and  I  devoted  all  my  spare  time 
to  my  interest  on  the  ranch  where  my  stock  keeper  was  in  charge. 
Then,  an  opportunity  presenting  itself,  I  traded  my  residence  in 
Houston  for  a  stock  of  cattle  and  in  1847  we  removed  to  the 
ranch  permanently. 

Very  soon  I  had  a  comfortable  and  desirable  home.  The 
place  was  so  well  improved  by  good  buildings,  fencings,  barns, 
pens,  lots,  and  pastures  (I  put  up  a  chicken  house  that  cost 
$1500),  that  strangers  would  remark  that  some  industrious 
Yankee  must  own  the  place,  and  were  much  surprised  when  they 
would  be  told  he  was  a  Southern  man,  an  early  comer  to  Texas. 
So  much  for  a  city  boy  that  took  to  ranching. 

The  little  town  of  Harrisburg,  scarce  three  miles  away,  gave 
us  a  pleasant  set  of  neighbors,  and  at  Houston  our  acquaintance 
was  large  and  our  friends  knew  they  were  always  welcome.  We 
had  plenty  of  good  country  fare — milk,  curds,  clabber,  good  fresh 
butter,  while  all  the  world  •  was  telling  that  we  had  prairies 
full  of  cattle  and  not  a  drop  of  milk,  and  plenty  of  berries  in 
season,  such  things  as  city  people  love  to  get  for  a  change.  It 
made  a  ride  out  to  Lubbock's  attractive,  and  really  it  was  an 
exception  when  we  sat  down  to  table  without  company. 

This  ranch  was  located  on  a  line  of  travel  from  Houston  to 
Galveston  and  to  many  ranches  in  Harris  and  Brazoria  Counties, 
and  though  not  on  a  county  road  it  was  passed  daily  by  many 
people.  The  largest  number  were  ranchmen,  and  of  course  were 
always  welcome  at  our  place — hence  we  had  much  company  of 
that  character.  This  entertaining  was  mutual,  as  it  was  custom- 
ary for  the  cattlemen  in  their  rounds  to  visit  and  camp  with  each 
other.  But  the  latch  string  was  always  on  the  outside  to  all 


124  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


comers,  and  no  traveler  ever  stopped  without  having  his  horse 
and  himself  taken  care  of  free  of  charge. 

I  enjoyed  living  in  the  country  and  riding  to  and  fro  to  attend 
to  court  matters,  and  unless  something  very  urgent  required 
me  to  remain  in  the  city  I  returned  home  at  night,  even  if  I  had 
to  encounter  a  rough  trip,  which  was  quite  often. 

Simms'  Bayou,  upon  the  south  side  of  which  my  improvements 
were  located,  was  very  boggy,  and  in  consequence  I  kept  upon 
it  what  is  known  as  a  ground  bridge.  The  country  around  was 
held  by  good  settlers,  people  of  intelligence  and  enterprise. 

At  Harrisburg  lived  General  Sherman,  who,  with  all  the 
energy  of  a  very  energetic  man,  was  striving  to  build  up  that 
town,  which  was  burned  in  1836  by  Santa  Anna.  He  had  been 
very  active  in  the  cause  of  Texas  independence,  using  his  own 
private  means  to  bring  her  aid  and  volunteering  his  services  in 
her  defense,  and  afterwards  made  himself  busy  in  building  up 
her  waste  places. 

In  1852  he  went  to  Boston,  Mass.,  and  enlisted  capitalists  to 
build  a  railroad  through  our  wilderness.  It  brought  little  or  no 
financial  success  to  him,  but  to  all  time  let  it  be  recorded  that  he 
not  only  led  the  first  charge  at  San  Jacinto  with  the  cry  of 
"Goliad  and  the  Alamo!"  but  that  the  first  locomotive  whose 
whistle  reverberated  over  a  Texas  prairie  was  the  "General 
Sherman/'  the  creation  of  his  enterprise  and  energy.  As  his  war- 
cry  opened  the  battle  that  had  such  great  political  results,  so 
the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  General  Sherman  struck  a  chord 
that  reverberated  through  our  vast  territory,  followed  in  my  life- 
time by  the  shrill  notes  of  legions  of  others  on  our  Southwestern 
railways,  reaching  with  messages  of  peace  and  prosperity  even 
into  that  foreign,  country  with  which  we  were  so  long  at  war. 

The  firm  of  Kyle  &  Terry  (Gen.  W.  J.  Kyle  and  Col.  Frank 
Terry,  of  Terry  Ranger  fame),  then  Oyster  Creek  cotton  and 
sugar  planters,  took  the  contract  for  building  the  road.  When 
it  reached  Thomas  Point  we  had  a  great  barbecue  to  celebrate 
the  opening,  and  several  of  us  glorified  the  occasion  in  speeches. 
We  all  had  our  expectation  of  great  good  up  to  the  highest  point, 
and  each  of  us  had  contributed  our  mite.  I  had  given  one  of 
my  finest  horses  for  the  survey  to  add  to  the  foreign  capital  thut 
General  Sherman  had  obtained  to  build  the  Buffalo  Bayou, 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  125 


Brazos,  &  Colorado  Kailroad,  now  the  Sunset  Route.  Barrett, 
from  Boston,  was  the  first  president,  and  the  first  engineer  was 
Williams,  who  afterwards  married  General  Sherman's  daughter. 
Mrs.  Sherman,  who  was  of  the  Cox  family,  was  a  very  beautiful 
woman;  indeed,  our  community  was  not  only  composed  of  intel- 
ligent, enterprising  men,  but  of  accomplished  women. 

Mrs.  Briscoe  is  the  only  one  of  that  olden  time  still  remaining 
to  show  this  generation  their  culture  and  worth  and  she  can  do 
it  grandly. 

Briscoe's  home  was  three  miles  from  ours.  At  the  time  of 
which  I  speak  he  was  county  judge  of  Harris  County,  and  a  man 
to  be  admired — firm,  brave,  and  just.  His  wife  was  from  the 
State  of  New  York,  General  Sherman's  from  Kentucky,  and 
mine  from  Louisiana.  These  were  all  good  friends,  for  the 
women  as  well  as  the  men  who  came  here  were  true  Texans. 

Among  the  later  men  were  the  Dobies,  well  educated  Vir- 
ginians and  fine  fellows,  whose  ranch  was  about  fourteen  miles 
from  ours;  Allen,  a  Texas  boy,  intelligent,  energetic,  and  reliable 
in  business,  and  Colonel  Hill,  a  first-class  South  Carolinian. 
Our  country  for  miles  around  was  held  by  enterprising  and 
industrious  citizens,  most  of  them  interested  in  cattle.  With 
all  of  these  I  cow-hunted  from  the  time  of  my  small  beginning 
until  I  became  the  largest  cattle  owner  between  the  Brazos  and 
Trinity,  and  no  baron  of  old  ever  went  forth  with  his  retainers 
at  his  back  to  right  his  wrongs  or  mayhap  to  answer  the  sum- 
mons of  a  superior  with  as  happy  and  as  free  a  heart  as  I,  a  cattle- 
man, with  my  neighbors  at  my  side  and  my  cowboys  at  my  heels, 
started  on  a  round  up.  Nor  did  any  baron  among  our  English 
ancestors  in  his  excursions  ride  over  so  broad  or  so  fair  a  land. 
In  all  the  world  that  I  have  visited  I  have  never  beheld  a  more 
beautiful  scene  than  a  prairie  in  sunny  Texas,  bounded  only  by 
the  drooping  canopy  of  heaven,  carpeted  with  grass,  bespangled 
with  flowers,  and  presenting  occasional  mottes  of  timber,  the 
only  life  in  the  scene  being  vast  herds  of  grazing  cattle.  An 
artist  would  revel  in  such  a  scene.  I  doubt,  however,  if  a 
musician  would  delight  in  the  lowing  of  the  herds,  but  it  made 
melody  for  me.  I  used  to  say  the  words  of  their  lowing  ran 
"Money  in  thy  purse,  my  boy;"  and  I  have  learned  in  going 


126  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS, 


through  the  world  that  not  only  my  practical  self,  but  a  musi- 
cian and  even  an  artist,  appreciates  "money  in  thy  purse." 

But  outside  of  money  making  a  cow-hunt  possessed  a  fascina- 
tion for  me.  It  had  many  of  the  features  of  a  soldier's  life, — the 
living  out  in  the  open  air,  the  sky  for  a  roof  and  the  grassy  sod 
for  a  pillow;  the  eager  appetite  for  the  simple  meal;  the  story  and 
merriment  around  the  campfire  with  friends;  plenty  of  excite- 
ment, combined  with  a  touch  of  danger,  and  considerable  gener- 
alship in  controlling  large  herds  of  wild  cattle. 

I  .purchased  land  for  a  ranch  only,  but  I  went  somewhat  into 
farming,  and  I  discovered  Briscoe  was  quite  mistaken  when  he 
positively  stated  that  the  land  he  sold  me  was  not  fit  for  anything 
but  cattle  raising.  This  I  found  out  after  I  put  enough  in  culti- 
vation to  answer  my  purposes.  It  was  black  hog-wallow,  or 
heavy  black  waxy  prairie,  and  its  need  was  drainage,  and  I  had  it 
well  ditched  and  drained.  Then,  in  preparing  my  ground  for 
the  crop,  I  adopted  a  mode  that  proved  very  beneficial.  My  land 
was  laid  off  in  beds  of  twelve  feet  wide,  thrown  well  up,  and  the 
corn  planted  on  those  beds  in  rows  of  three  or  four  feet  apart. 
This  gave  admirable  drainage.  The  next  year  I  would  plant  in 
the  water  furrows  next  to  the  corn  rows,  after  opening  them  with 
a  subsoil  plow,  and  I  invariably  made  good  corn.  While  I  did 
not  plant  cotton  for  a  crop,  the  land  would  produce  it  well,  as  I 
found  by  my  experiments,  and  General  Briscoe,  a  cotton  planter 
of  Mississippi,  who  visited  me  once  in  company  with  his  son, 
Judge  Briscoe,  was  delighted  with  my  farm,  and  said  that  he 
knew  from  what  he  saw  of  my  place  that  it  would  produce  good 
cotton  and  in  paying  quantities.  Besides,  it  yielded  very  fair 
oats  and  peas  and  sweet  and  Irish  potatoes  of  the  best  quality; 
in  fact  vegetables  of  all  kinds  grew  well.  I  also  had  a  good 
peach  and  plum  orchard  and  very  many  fine  fig  trees.  Black- 
berries and  dewberries,  indigenous  to  the  sandy  soil,  grew  in 
great  profusion  upon  the  waxy  land  after  it  was  plowed;  sorghum 
made  luxuriant  crops.  Upon  this  I  summered  my  hogs,  of  which 
I  had  a  large  stock. 

Many  farmers  who  cultivate  heavy  black  land  make  a  groat 
mistake  in  allowing  their  stock  to  run  in  their  field;  I  never  per- 
mitted it.  This  even  in  dry  weather  injures  the  land  and  makes 
it  hard  to  plow,  and  is  ruinous  in  wet  weather;  it  packs  the  land 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  127 


and  makes  it  break  in  hard  clods  which  sometimes  remain  un- 
packed during  the  entire  season.  It  pays  to  house  your  pea  vines 
fodder  and  hay  and  feed  it  from  the  barns,  instead  of  allowing 
the  stock  to  feed  from  the  fields.  I  should,  however,  be  modest 
in  expressing  myself  about  farming,  for  I  counted  myself  a  cat- 
tleman and  not  a  farmer ;  but  I  believe  I  would  be  modest  even  if 
very  proud  of  my  success  as  a  farmer  more  than  forty  years  ago. 
I  did  not  have  agricultural  journals  or  any  early  training  to  help 
me  on,  but  I  made  a  good  farmer  on  black  waxy  prairie  in  Harris 
County;  so  I  can  but  exclaim,  as  I  think  of  the  more  superior 
soils  of  the  State,  what  an  Eldorado  Texas  is  for  the  industrious 
and  frugal  farmer! 

For  the  first  few  years  we  had  a  hard  and  trying  time.  We 
settled  where  a  tree  had  never  been  felled  nor  a  blade  of  grass 
cut  clown.  Considerable  stock  had  been  gotten  together 
and  quite  a  nice  "caballado"  or  drove  of  horses.  The  bayou  was 
very  boggy,  and  the  first  winters  and  springs,  when  the  stock 
became  poor  and  while  they  were  still  unaccustomed  to  the  cross- 
ings, the  losses  were  very  heavy.  The  finest  horses  and  cattle 
seemed  doomed  to  bog.  All  the  receipts  of  the  clerk's  office  were 
required  to  keep  the  ranch  and  farm  agoing,  and  at  times  I  found 
myself  getting  in  debt.  I  had  no  experience  in  such  a  life,  and 
so  discouraged  was  I  that  in  paying  a  visit  to  my  friend  Briscoe 
I  declared  to  him  that  I  contemplated  abandoning  my  ranch  and 
returning  to  town.  He  had  a  story  ready  for  me  to  about  this 
effect:  that  no  matter  in  what  business  you  embark,  if  it  is  legiti- 
mate, it  is  entitled  to  a  fair  trial,  and  if  you  would  give  it  good 
and  intelligent  attention  with  proper  energy  and  industry  and 
stick  to  it  for  ten  years,  the  difficulties  would  be  surmounted  and 
it  would  prove  lucrative.  After  hearing  the  story,  I  left  his 
house  determined  to  hold  on  for  ten  years  and  take  all  the 
chances. 

Now,  what  was  a  round-up?  I  will  endeavor  to  give  you  an 
idea  of  it.  The  cattle  being  without  any  restraint  during  the 
winter  would  drift  freely  from  the  ranches  of  their  respective 
owners.  So  it  became  necessary  early  in  the  spring  to  hunt  them 
up  and  drive  them  back  preparatory  to  the  branding  of  the 
calves.  In  order  to  do  this  the  ranchers  who  wished  to  have  the 


128  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


same  range  assembled  with  from  five  to  twenty  men,  as  circum- 
stances required.  Each  household  would  have  its  own  pack  mule 
and  provisions,  consisting  of  biscuit,  prepared  to  keep  without 
moulding,  hard  tack,  bacon,  coffee  in  great  abundance,  sugar, 
and  molasses.  When  the  drive  was  expected  to  be  long  con- 
tinued a  wagon  with  a  pair  of  mules  would  be  taken  for  trans- 
portation. According  to  the  extent  of  the  range  the  time  of  the 
hunt  would  be  determined;  three  to  eight  days  would  make  up  a 
drive  when  not  going  very  far  from  home,  and  a  larger  scope  of 
country  would  demand  sometimes  as  much  as  thirty  days.  From 
two  to  four  horses  were  provided  for  each  man,  because  the 
horses  were  worked  with  only  grass  for  their  feed,  and  must  needs 
be  changed  frequently  during  the  day. 

It  was  customary  during  a  drive  in  the  spring  of  the  year  or  to 
the  first  of  July  to  pen  the  cattle  gathered  into  the  herd  and 
brand  the  calves  every  day  to  guard  against  accidents  or  escapes. 
This  branding  was  the  main  object  of  the  hunt,  of  course.  As 
the  cattle  belonged  to  different  men,  the  first  care  was  to  identify 
the  calves  by  their  mothers.  When  they  were  tired  and  refused 
to  notice  their  mothers,  it  was  wonderful  to  see  with  what  cer- 
tainty some  of  the  cowboys  could  identify  them  by  their  ap- 
pearance and  flesh  marks.  Then  a  cowboy  on  the  alert  would 
rope  and  throw  the  calf,  while  another  handed  him  the  iron 
heated  and  ready  to  be  applied.  It  was  the  work  of  a  moment. 
In  case  a  mistake  was  discovered  the  same  brand  was  again  ap- 
plied, which  was  called  counterbranding,  and  the  owner's  brand 
then  put  on.  This  was  the  mode  of  transferring  cattle  from 
one  owner  to  another,  and  was  invariably  done  when  selling  stock 
cattle,  unless  the  entire  stock,  including  the  brand,  was  sold. 

Then,  upon  arriving  on  some  noted  ground  where  the  com- 
pany expected  to  separate,  the  large  herd,  sometimes  numbering 
several  thousand,  would  be  held,  which  we  did  by  encircling  them 
on  horseback,  forming  as  it  were  an  inclosure.  'The  party  having 
the  smallest  number  in  the  herd  then  proceeded  to  cut  out,  as  it 
is  called,  his  cattle,  and  so  on  the  next  smallest  owner,  and  the 
next,  until  each  cattleman  would  have  his  stock  gathered  into 
a  separate  herd,  which  he  would  drive  home,  turning  them  on 
the  range  to  which  they  were  accustomed  for  the  summer.  Of 
course  many,  unless  closely  herded,  would  drift  back  whence  they 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  129 


were  driven,  which  made  little  difference  if  the  calves  were 
branded.  In  the  fall  the  same  course  of  driving  was  pursued, 
except  that  it  was  not  advisable  to  drive  the  cattle  home.  They 
were  only  rounded  up,  and  the  calves  being  branded,  they  were 
allowed  to  remain  where  they  were. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  do  not  understand  what  is  meant 
by  cutting  out  or  parting  cattle,  I  will  explain.  A  large  number 
of  stock  is  rounded  up.  Several  owners  have  aided  in  the  round- 
ing up  and  have  cattle  in  the  herd.  The  time  comes  for  each  to 
get  out  his  own  preparatory  to  driving  them  home.  He  mounts 
his  horse,  and  very  much  depends  on  the  training  and  intelli- 
gence of  the  latter  in  getting  his  work  done  rapidly  and 
smoothly.  The  animal  he  wishes  is  singled  out  and  he  proceeds 
gently  to  push  it  towards  the  outer  line  of  the  herd,  causing  as 
little  disturbance  among  the  cattle  as  possible.  On  getting  it  to 
a  favorable  point  on  the  outer  line  his  horse  makes  a  quick  dash, 
running  it  out  to  a  point  some  distance  from  the  main  herd, 
where  one  by  one  he  collects  in  the  same  manner  his  own  cattle. 
This  process  is  continued  until  all  the  ranchmen  get  together 
their  several  herds.  Then  the  strays  or  cattle  not  claimed  are 
turned  loose  to  roam. 

My  pony  Shuck  was  the  'first  horse  I  purchased  for  my  own 
cowdriving.  He  was  considered  the  best  parting  or  cutting  out 
animal  in  all  our  range.  Young,  fleet,  quick,  and  sensible,  he 
waited  and  watched,  appearing  to  know  just  what  a  cow  was 
intending  to  do.  He  would  come  nearer  taking  care  of  a  herd 
without  a  rider  than  any  animal  I  ever  knew.  I  worked  him  un- 
til he  was  about  twenty  years  old  and  then  gave  him  his  free- 
dom, permitting  no  one  to  back  him. 

On  one  occasion,  having  a  bunch  of  cattle  near  our  place, 
Briscoe,  whose  horse  was  tired,  requested  me  to  let  him  have 
Shuck  for  cutting  out  his  cattle.  Briscoe  was  peculiar  about 
his  horse  equipments.  He  rode  with  a  very  loose  saddle  girth, 
generally  a  weak  one;  his  stirrup  leathers  were  poor,  and  his  en- 
tire outfit  was  not  strong.  His  idea  was  that  if  his  horse  fell 
or  anything  happened  he  wished  his  rigging  to  give  way  so  that 
he  would  not  hang  in  his  stirrup  or  be  dragged,  as  was  often 
the  case.  On  mounting  Shuck  I  cautioned  him  about  the  pony's 
quickness  and  manner  of  dodging,  so  different  from  his  horse 
9 


130  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Comanche,  a  great  favorite.  1  advised  him  to  put  another  sad- 
dle on,  which  he  refused  to  do,  mounting  upon  his  own.  He  be- 
gan his  work,  and  for  a  time  everything  went  well.  He  was  a 
good  rider  and  very  careful  in  parting  stock.  He  had  gotten  out 
quite  a  number  when  he  encountered  a  wild  and  contrary  year- 
ling, of  all  stock  the  most  difficult  to  cut  out.  In  making  a 
rapid  movement  the  yearling  stopped  suddenly,  turning  very 
quickly  back  towards  the  herd.  Just  as  I  expected,  Shuck,  as 
was  his  wont,  turned  at  right  angles  to  head  off  the  animal. 
Friend  Briscoe  with  his  saddle  went  in  one  direction  and  Shuck 
in  another.  He  was  badly  shaken  up,  but  fortunately  not  in- 
jured. Had  his  equipments  been  strong  1  think  he  would  prob- 
ably have  not  fallen.  After  getting  up,  however,  he  insisted 
that  he  preferred  it  his  way.  He  did  not  try  Shuck  any  more, 
finishing  his  work  on  Comanche. 

Speaking  of  excitement  in  driving  cattle  reminds  me  of  a  day 
when  I  had  enough  of  it.  While  putting  together  several  thou- 
sand head  some  four  miles  from  my  ranch,  in  company  with 
Briscoe,  Allen  and  others,  I  was  driving  to  the  herd  a  three- 
year-old  bull  belonging  to  Mr.  Allan  Coward.  My  animal  was 
an  extra  fine  one  to  be  driving  cattle  on,  and  had  little  ex- 
perience in  the  work.  The  bull,  infuriated  at  being  driven, 
turned  upon  me  and  made  a  rush  and  lunge.  Barely  missing 
my  thigh,  he  tore  a  desperate  wound  in  the  side  of  the  mare, 
causing  the  fat  about  her  paunch  to  protrude.  After  doing  this 
mischief,  fortunately  for  me  he  kept  on  his  course.  My  friends 
came  to  me  immediately.  The  mare  was  walked  to  the  house, 
the  protruding  matter  replaced,  the  wound  stitched  up,  and 
she  recovered,  doing  good  service  for  years,  although  her  appear- 
ance was  somewhat  marred  by  a  large  lump  remaining  on  her 
side. 

The  roughest  work  we  had  was  at  Junker's  Cove,  »nd  it  was 
not  only  hard  but  attended  with  considerable  danger.  This  was 
a  very  "thicketty"  country  on  our  range,  situated  in  Harris 
County,  about  twenty-five  miles  below  Houston,  between  the 
waters  of  Clear  Creek  and  its  tributaries.  The  thicket  was  quite 
dense  and  it  was  a  great  harbor  for  wild  cattle.  These  cattle  be- 
came so  wild  that  they  never  fed  out  of  the  woods  into  the 
small  prairies  near  by  except  at  night,  and  then  it  was  almost 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  131 


impossible  to  get  them  beyond  their  usual  grazing  ground  out 
into  the  big  prairies.  They  finally  became  so  bad  that  a  large 
number  of  us  would  assemble,  riding  for  miles  in  their  rear, 
those  who  were  expert  with  the  lasso  being  ready  to  rope  his 
animal  as  soon  as  one  was  discovered  by  them,  for  to  the  thicket 
they  would  instantly  return,  running  over  man  and  horse  in 
their  fury  to  reach  their  hiding  place.  It  so  happened,  however, 
that  a  few  would  be  roped  at  each  run.  The  next  question  was 
how  to  proceed  with  these.  As  soon  as  they  were  thrown  they 
were  tied,  holes  punched  or  cut  in  their  eyelids,  and  these  drawn 
together  with  hair  taken  from  their  tails,  so  that  they  were 
perfectly  blinded,  their  eyes  being  sewed  up.  A  small,  gentle 
herd  was  always  held  near  at  hand  with  good  herders,  and  this 
gentle  herd  would  then  be  driven  around  the  tied  cattle,  which 
would  be  let  up  by  the  ropes  holding  them  down  being  displaced 
by  the  expert  cattle  roper.  Not  having  sight,  they  would  stay 
with  the  gentle  herd,  and  in  that  way  we  could  drive  them  off 
to  a  new  range,  where,  after  their  sight  was  restored  to  them 
by  cutting  the  hair,  they  would  generally  remain. 

On  one  of  those  moonlight  drives  my  brother  Tom  Lubbock 
was  with  us  as  an  amateur,  and  although  an  expert  rider  and 
good  cowdriver,  he  was  run  over  and  quite  severely  injured, 
nearly  losing  his  life.  Many  accidents  of  like  character  would 
occur,  though  fortunately  we  never  lost  a  life  in  this  way.  But 
I  have  known  cattlemen,  expert  riders,  to  break  their  necks  in 
Texas. 

I  shall  never  forget  a  terrible  fall  I  encountered  in  running 
cattle  near  the  battleground  of  San  Jacinto,  and  that  I  did  not 
break  my  neck  where  other  men  were  made  immortal,  was  des- 
tiny. One  of  the  small  bayous  had  become  covered  over  with 
weeds  and  brush  so  as  not  to  be  perceptible.  I  was  running  at 
full  speed  a  cow-horse  that  the  boys  had  dubbed  the  Flying 
Dutchman,  because  he  was  rather  more  fleet  than  the  usual  cow 
pony.  I  dashed  him  under  whip  and  spur  into  this  place  after 
a  yearling.  We  went  down  together.  My  friend  Allen  was  with 
me  in  a  moment,  expecting  that  both  horse  and  rider  were 
killed,  for  neither  stirred  until  lifted  out.  I  was  for  a  while 
senseless.  No  bones  were  broken,  however,  and  in  a  few  hours 
I  was  running  as  usual,  and  my  horse,  extricated  and  put  upon 


132  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


his  feet,  was  next  day  as  good  a  Flying  Dutchman  as  before  his 
fall. 

Among  the  incidents  of  a  cowdriver's  life  I  remember  well  a 
remarkable  experience  with  a  bucking  or  pitching  horse.  In  one 
of  our  drives  we  had  been  out  for  a  very  long  time.  The  prairies 
were  very  wet  and  our  horses  were  about  brokn  down.  Camp- 
ing at  Asa  Abshiere's,  a  stockman  on  Clear  Creek  some  fifteen 
miles  from  home,  he  proposed  to  sell  me  a  stout,  strong-looking 
pony  about  nine  years  old.  He  was. what  is  known  among  horse- 
breeders  as  a  "stag'"'  horse  and  came  from  Louisiana.  I  pur- 
chased him  and  we  started  for  home,  when  he  appeared  all  right. 
But  after  crossing  a  creek  and  riding  a  few  miles,  without  any 
apparent  cause  he  began  bucking  or  pitching.  It  proved  the 
fastest,  hardest,  and  longest  pitching  spell  that  I  ever  encoun- 
tered. After  a  time  my  bridle-bit,  a  new  one,  gave  way,  and  I 
had  to  ride  with  a  halter.  I  depended  alone  upon  my  fine  spurs 
to  hold  me  in  the  saddle.  I  soon  became  very  blind,  and  made 
up  my  mind  deliberately  to  give  up,  take  the  chances,  and  fall 
off.  At  this  moment  my  ever  good  friend  Briscoe  rode  up, 
cheered  me,  and  said,  "You  can  ride  the  brute;  stick  to  him; 
do  not  fall — it  is  too  hazardous."  Were  you  ever  in  a  fight 
with  another  boy  and  about  to  give  up,  and  then  have  a  big  boy 
tell  you,  "Don't  give  up  and  you  will  whip  the  fight?"  So  it 
was  then.  I  straightened  up,  determined  to  stay  in  the  saddle. 
The  vicious  horse  would  stop  pitching  when  about  as  tired  as 
I  was.  Then  when  I  would  attempt  to  get  off  he  would  endeavor 
to  kick  or  bite.  Finally  he  was  roped  around  the  neck  and  by 
one  of  his  fore  feet  and  straightened  out  so  I  could  dismount. 
Upon  making  a  survey  of  the  damages  we  found  the  bridle 
broken,  the  saddle,  although  newly  trimmed  with  the  strongest 
and  best  findings,  all  pulled  and  strained,  the  strings  snapped 
in  two,  and  the  skirts  badly  marked  by  the  rake  of  the  spurs, 
showing  the  service  they  had  performed  in  keeping  the  rider 
in  the  saddle.  And  as  for  the  rider,  fortunately  he  was  not 
many  miles  from  home,  and  one  of  the  broken  down  horses  was 
mounted,  the  slow  riding  suiting  his  condition  admirably.  We 
had  a  Mexican  along,  a  very  good  horse-breaker.  I  offered  him 
five  dollars  if  ho  would  ride  the  horse  home.  "No,"  he  said; 
"I  no  ride  Louisiana  stag.  I  rather  ride  pitching  Spanish  horse." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  133 


Not  one  of  the  party  would  ride  him,  so  he  was  driven  along 
with  our  loose  horses.  On  getting  home  it  was  found  that  the 
aforesaid  rider  cowboy  was  raw  from  his  ankles  to  his  thighs, 
and  for  days  could  not  get  about.  Next  day  I  traded  the  miser- 
able brute  for  a  brood  mare  to  my  horse-breaker  Weed.  He 
would  and  could  ride  anything  with  hair  on. 

During  a  hunt  on  the  Brazos  one  evening  when  we  were  pur- 
suing the  cattle  at  Cartwright's,  I  was  driving  up  a  yearling. 
There  had  been  rain  and  the  ground  was  slick.  When  quite 
near  the  pen  he  broke  back  for  the  prairie,  I  pursuing,  and  in 
making  a  quick  turn  Shuck  slipped  and  fell,  taking  me  down 
with  him.  I  kept  my  saddle,  and  as  I  lay  with  my  left  leg 
under  him,  he  falling  on  his  side,  I  pressed  him  hard  with  the 
spur  on  my  right  heel.  He  was  up  in  an  instant  and  the  yearling 
was  followed,  brought  back,  and  put  in  the  pen  amidst  the  plaud- 
its of  the  cowboys,  I  having  never  left  my  saddle.  On  going  into 
camp  after  my  fall  it  was  found  necessary  to  cut  my  boot  off, 
the  ankle  was  so  badly  swollen,  and  I  was  compelled  to  quit  the 
drive  and  return  home.  But  I  was  all  right  again  in  a  few  days. 

Not  long  after  this  we  had  some  fun  that  was  more  fun  to 
the  others  than  myself,  and  I  was  taken  down  a  few  notches. 

Allen,  Coward,  Hill,  the  Dobies,  and  others  with  myself  made 
up  the  party.  When  we  came  to  the  Chocolates  we  found  the 
bayous  very  high  and  crossing  difficult.  After  searching  for 
some  time  we  found  an  immense  pine  tree  that  had  fallen  across 
the  bayou  with  the  top  on  our  side  and  the  butt  on  the  opposite. 
The  water  was  flowing  over  it  at  considerable  depth.  By  means 
of  connecting  our  cabrasses  and  lariats  (hair  ropes  and  rawhide 
ropes)  together,  we  stretched  them  along  the  tree  and  across 
the  stream  that  we  might  have  a  hand-hold  to  keep  us  from  drift- 
ing off  the  trunk,  for  the  current  was  very  rapid.  Our  horses 
were  stripped,  and  after  swimming  them  over  we  commenced 
crossing,  each  one  with  his  blanket,  saddle,  and  other  traps  on 
his  shoulders.  I  was  perhaps  the  shortest  man  of  the  party 
and  waited  to  see  them  all  over,  bringing  up  the  rear.  It  was 
early  spring  and  the  rain  and  norther  made  it  very  cold.  I  said 
when  starting,  "Now,  boys,  tell  me  when  to  leave  the  tree.  It  is 
cold,  and  I  wish  to  get  over  as  dry  as  possible."  Cautiously 
walking  the  tree  and  holding  to  the  ropes  so  as  not  to  fall  into 


134  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  stream,  I  was  told  at  a  certain  place,  "Now  is  your  time  to 
get  off."  I  did  so,  the  water,  as  cold  as  ice,  taking  me  about  my 
armpits.  I  was  angry — very  angry,  foolishly  angry.  I  conceived 
that  I  had  been  tricked,  unfairly  dealt  with.  I  so  said,  and 
abused  my  friends,  behaving  most  ridiculously.  It  will  not  do 
to  write  down  what  I  said,  but  what  I  did  say  I  suppose  is  mak- 
ing blue  streaks  through  some  place  in  the  universe  even  now.  It 
is  sorrowful  to  think  that  every  word  spoken,  be  it  ever  so  bad, 
rolls  on  forever  as  a  certain  lady  says  it  does,  with  a  lot  of  talk 
about  energy  and  force  that  I  do  not  understand,  and  maybe 
nobody  else  does.  But  I  knew  it  made  me  wish  that  I  had  been 
a  church  member  earlier,  so  that  I  would  not  have  turned  loose 
such  unlovely  words  to  go  down  the  ages  forevermore. 

To  add  to  my  discomfiture,  my  South  Carolina  friend  Hill, 
who  had  large  and  beautifully  white  teeth,  was  grinning  behind 
a  tree  so  that  I  could  just  see  his  ivory,  and  I  became  very  severe 
on  him.  Finally  a  stop  had  to  be  brought  to  all  this  nonsense, 
and  Hill  emerged  from  his  tree  and  said:  "Lubbock,  I  know 
you  to  be  a  fine  horseman,  and  you  can  stand  as  much  labor  as 
any  man  of  us.  I  know  you  to  be  proud  of  your  accomplish- 
ments as  a  horseman  and  your  great  endurance  as  a  cow- 
driver.  I  know  that  you  consider  yourself  when  mounted  equal 
to  any  man,  and  I  admit  it.  However,  I  did  not  think  that  you 
were  vain  enough  to  suppose  that  you  could  wade  through  water 
and  get  wet  no  higher  up  than  men  who  are  more  than  a  foot 
taller  than  you."  'There  were  several  of  the  party  six  feet  high 
and  upward.  I  at  once  took  in  the  situation,  saw  how  ridiculous 
my  behavior  had  been,  apologized  in  the  most  abject  manner  to 
my  friends,  including  our  darkies  who  were  with  us,  and  stored 
up  in  my  memory  a  most  valuable  lesson  for  my  after  life.  Lit- 
tle men  should  not  attempt  to  wade  with  big  men,  either  in 
water  or  finances  and  politics,  without  expecting  to  get  wet 
higher  up,  even  to  the  armpits. 

I  think  Weed  was  the  laziest  man  I  ever  knew.  A  few  notes 
of  his  career  will  show  how  easy  it  was  for  a  man  to  live  in 
Texas  with  very  little  labor  and  capital.  Buck  Henderson,  liv- 
ing in  Houston,  finding  that  Weed  was  breaking  my  horses, 
volunteered  to  tell  me  somewhat  of  his  history.  He  was  a  horse- 
breaker  in  Louisiana.  Henderson  met  him  as  he  crossed  the 


LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS.  135 


Sabinc,  when  he  had  a  light  Louisiana  cart,  wood  wheels  and 
no  tires,  a  yoke  of  yearling  beeves  hitched  to  the  cart,  some  little 
plunder,  and  a  young  and  pretty  wife.  He  stopped  in  Texas 
on  the  Sabine  and  engaged  in  horse-breaking.  The  next  year 
Henderson  in  traveling  west  saw  him  as  he  stopped  on  the 
Neches.  He  had  the  same  cart,  his  yearlings  had  become  two- 
year-olds,  he  had  a  new  pair  of  yearlings,  more  plunder  in  his 
cart,  the  same  wife,  and  a  baby  added.  After  spending  the  year 
here  breaking  horses  Henderson  saw  him  cross  to  the  west  of 
the  Trinity.  He  had  then  a  small  two-horse  wagon,  his  two- 
year-old  steers  were  good  three-year-olds,  his  yearlings  had  be- 
come two-year-olds,  and  he  had  a  pair  of  yearlings  in  the  lead. 
He  had  a  chicken  coop  attached  to  the  wagon,  the  wagon  was 
full  of  plunder,  his  wife  was  with  him,  looking  well,  and  he 
then  had  two  boys,  and  behind  the  wagon  a  mare  and  a  colt. 
Finally  Weed  reached  my  ranch  with  about  the  outfit  named. 
Henderson  said,  "Your  horse-breaker  is  a  moving,  prospering 
man." 

He  soon  made  a  contract  to  break  my  horses.  He  was  per- 
mitted to  occupy  a  vacant  house.  Close  to  this  he  would  have 
several  horses  in  hand  staked  out  in  the  grass.  He  would  have 
Ms  wife  by  daylight  to  make  coffee  for  him,  and  you  would 
suppose  he  was  up  for  a  morning's  work.  ISTot  so.  His  wife 
would  milk  the  cows  that  she  was  permitted  to  milk,  and  Weed 
would  stay  about  the  house,  not  even  moving  his  horses  until 
after  a  late  breakfast,  contending  that  it  was  best  for  the  young 
horses  not  to  handle  them  too  soon  in  the  morning. 

One  fall,  after  the  season  for  breaking  horses  was  over,  he 
applied  to  me  for  some  work  about  the  farm.  I  said,  "Weed, 
we  want  to  fence  in  a  good  pasture  and  rearrange  our  cowpens. 
Rails  will  be  needed,  and. you  shall  have  one  dollar  a  hundred 
for  all  rails  split,  and  you  can  work  all  winter."  He  jumped  at 
the  job,  but  he  had  to  be  furnished  with  axes  and  wedges.  All 
were  immediately  purchased  for  him.  After  splitting  a  very 
few  rails  he  reported  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  continue 
the  work:  that  many  years  ago  in  breaking  a  bad  horse  his  back 
was  injured,  and  he  could  not  maul  rails.  "Mr.  Lubbock,  can 
you  give  me  something  else?"  "Well,  there  is  a  field  of  fine  crab 
grass  that  should  be  saved.  The  boys  are  busy  in  the  prairie. 


136  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Suppose  you  go  at  that.  It  will  give  you  work  for  some  time." 
Certainly:  he  would  begin  immediately.  He  must  have  a  scythe 
and  scythe  stones.  All  right;  they  were  at  once  purchased.  In 
a  day  or  two,  all  things  being  ready,  I  left  him  in  the  field  in 
the  crab  grass.  That  morning  I  rode  up  to  Houston.  While 
standing  upon  the  corner  of  Congress  Street,  I  saw  a  man 
riding  very  rapidly  toward  me.  Soon  recognizing  the  horse,  I 
became  alarmed,  fearing  something  was  the  matter  at  home. 
Hastening  to  meet  the  horseman  and  finding  it  to  be  Weed,  I 
said  nervously,  "What  in  the  world  is  the  matter?"  "Oh,  noth- 
ing," he  calmly  replied.  "Nothing.  Knowing  you  were  anx- 
ious about  saving  the  grass,  I  thought  it  best  to  come  and  tell 
you  that  in  attempting  to  cut  it  my  wrist  gave  way.  Many 
years  ago  in  breaking  a  bad  horse  my  wrist  was  badly  injured, 
and  I  iind  I  can  not  cut  the  grass.  Mr.  Lubbock,  is  there  any 
other  job  you  can  give  me?"  "Go  away,"  I  said,  "and  wait  until 
horse-breaking  season  comes  again.  You  are  fit  for  nothing 
else.  You  will  do  nothing  else.  You  are  the  laziest  white 
man  in  Texas."  For  several  years  he  continued  in  my  service, 
and  he  was  good  at  horse-breaking,  an  occupation  of  which  a 
man  becomes  very  fond,  however  lazy  he  may  be  in  other  em- 
ployments. Many  of  our  negro  boys  were  fine  horse-breakers. 
However,  we  preferred  saving  their  "backs  and  wrists." 

I  had  a  number  of  negroes,  good  men  and  efficient  workers. 
In  Osborn  and  William  I  owned  two  boys  very  valuable  both 
for  their  honesty  and  intelligence  with  cattle  and  horses.  After 
they  became  free  they  were  employed  by  stockmen,  receiving 
high  wages.  But  my  best  cowboy  and  most  expert  rider  and 
horse-breaker  was  Willis,  or  Cy.  Brought  up  by  a  Louisiana 
stockman  who  gave  him  many  privileges,  he  had  a  brand  of 
his  own  and  possessed  a  small  number  of  horses  and  a  good 
herd  of  cattle.  For  some  cause  he  had  been  sold  and  he  was 
not  satisfied  with  his  next  owner,  who  had  none  besides  him. 
A  negro  was  generally  disgusted  when  he  was  just  "one  lone 
nigger  in  the  cornfield."  So  not  satisfied,  he  took  to  the 
woods  and  staved  there.  By  some  means  he  sent  a  message 
asking  me  to  buy  him;  that  he  was  a  good  stockman  and  would 
render  me  valuable  service.  I  said  that  I  would  like  to  have 
him,  and  his  owner  having  heard  it,  sold  him  to  me.  He  had 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


a  kindly  heart,  which  was  illustrated  once  while  on  a  cow  hunt. 
He  saw  what  he  supposed  to  be  a  black  wolf  out  on  the  prairie 
near  the  Brazos  bottom,  and  gave  chase.  After  coming  up 
with  his  game  he  found  his  wolf  was  a  bear.  He  lassoed  it, 
and  thus  tied  to  his  saddle  by  jerking  it  about  he  finally  man- 
aged to  kill  the  brute  by  choking  it  down  and  beating  it  with 
his  stirrup.  Upon  arriving  in  camp  he  told  the  story  of  the 
capture,  and,  moved  almost  to  tears,  declared  it  would  be  the 
last  time  that  he  would  ever  tackle  a  bear,  "for  dere  is  human 
in  'em,  sure;  it  begged  and  moaned  just  like  a  human." 

He  had  a  great  desire  to  be  free,  so  he  could  manage  his  stock 
to  suit  himself.  I  sold  him  his  freedom,  he  paying  me  a  portion 
of  the  money.  Subsequently  he  interceded  with  me  to  assist 
him  in  purchasing  for  himself  his  children  and  wife,  a  fine, 
handsome  woman,  and  a  good  wife  to  him.  He  paid  a  part 
down  and  I  guaranteed  the  balance.  In  the  meantime  the  war 
came  on,  and  when  "freedom  came,"  as  the  darkeys  say,  he 
owed  me  a  part  of  his  own  purchase  money.  This  I  lost,  and 
I  had  to  pay  the  debt  I  assumed  for  the  purchase  of  his  family. 

One  of  my  best  negroes  was  Louis.  I  remember  an  amusing 
pass  with  him  upon  one  occasion  after  I  went  into  politics. 
Returning  home  about  dark  after  an  absence  of  a  few  days, 
on  stepping  from  the  hall  into  the  yard  I  was  seized  by  the 
calf  of  the  leg  and  violently  shaken  by  a  dog.  Fortunately  I 
had  on  a  pair  of  good  high  topped  boots  and  managed  to  throw 
the  brute  off  without  sustaining  any  injury.  I  at  once  got  my 
shotgun,  determined  to  kill  him.  The  load  had  been  dis- 
charged during  my  absence,  and  some  delay  ensued  in  obtaining 
ammunition.  My  anger  having  somewhat  abated,  I  repaired  to 
the  door  to  inquire  what  dog  had  attacked  me,  when  I  was  re- 
ferred to  Louis.  I  said  to  him,  "Was  that  your  dog  that  at- 
tempted to  bite  me?"  "Yes,  Mass  Frank,"  he  replied.  "Well, 
Louis,  I  would  have  killed  him  had  my  gun  been  loaded,  and 
do  you  take  him  away  by  morning.  I  never  keep  a  biting  dog 
myself,  and  I  certainly  will  not  have  one  about  the  place  that 
does  not  know  the  owner  of  it."  He  rejoined  in  the  most  inno- 
cent manner  possible,  "Mass  Frank,  you  can't  blame  the  dog 
because  he  don't  know  you.  You  aint  home  'nough  dese  days 
for  the  dogs  to  know  you."  This  answer  created  much  merri- 


138  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ment,  and  was  quoted  tome  by  my  wife  quite  frequently  about 
that  time. 

I  never  was  a  dog  fancier.  In  fact  I  despise  most  dogs,  and 
never  would  keep  one  about  my  home  that  would  bite  a  human 
being.  I  did  however  at  this  very  time  own  a  dog,  mastiff  and 
bull,  one  of  the  finest  specimens  I  ever  saw,  and  he  was  beyond 
price.  He  was  almost  as  useful  as  a  good  stock  boy.  He  was 
so  intelligent  that  he  would  go  in  the  prairie  and  drive  up  milch 
cows.  He  would  guard  the  gap  and  let  out  only  such  calves  as 
you  desired  to  turn  from  the  pen.  If  ordered  to  do  so  he  would 
bring  by  the  nose  the  most  unruly  beef  from  the  prairie  to  the 
cowpen.  I  could  make  him  catch  anything  from  a  horse  to  a 
pig,  but  I  never  did  know  him  to  offer  to  bite  a  human  being. 
He  was  final \y  killed  by  a  wild  boar  through  a  neighbor's  bad 
judgment  in  setting  him  on  it. 

The  marketing  of  cattle  when  I  was  a  ranchman  was  a  differ- 
ent thing  from  the  present  time.  In  1845  and  for  several  years 
afterwards  Galveston  and  Houston,  then  small  towns,  consumed 
but  few  cattle,  and  had  a  large  scope  of  country  well  stocked  to 
draw  their  supplies  from. 

In  driving  to  Galveston  there  was  no  way  to  get  across  the 
bay  except  in  small  sail  boats  from  Virginia  Point,  carrying 
from  three  to  seven  beeves,  and  we  could  not  make  the  trip 
unless  the  wind  and  tides  were  favorable.  Sometimes  we  were 
compelled  to  remain  there  many  days  before  getting  over  a 
few  head. 

At  Houston  there  was  an  establishment  for  the  slaughtering 
of  cattle  for  the  hide  and  tallow.  They  would  give  from  one 
to  one  and  one-quarter  cents  per  pound  net  weight,  they  claim- 
ing the  privilege  of  slaughtering,  and  they  would  take  the  neck 
of!  pretty  close  to  the  shoulders,  the  shanks  off,  and  hang  the 
carcass  up  to  drip  all  night;  so  that  it  took  a  pretty  good  Texas 
three-year-old  to  bring  you  four  dollars  and  a  real  good  beef  to 
bring  you  five  dollars.  The  butcher  gave  a  little  better  price, 
but  the  consumption  was  so  small  that  the  stock  people  had  to 
sell  to  the  tallow  company. 

At  that  time  Texas  furnished  many  cattle  to  New  Orleans. 
They,  however,  from  our  section  were  driven  overland,  a  long, 
tedious,  and  expensive  trip,  sometimes  very  disastrous  in  conse- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  139 


quence  of  the  many  rivers  to  cross.  Some  years  after  this  state 
of  affairs  we  had  the  Morgan  steamers  running  from  Galveston 
to  New  Orleans.  Then  our  cattle  would  be  driven  to  Buffalo 
Bayou  below  Harrisburg,  put  on  barges  taken  to  Galveston,  then 
loaded  upon  the  steamer  for  New  Orleans  and  landed  at  the 
stock  landing.  It  was  a  hard  trip,  and  if  the  voyage  was  rough 
the  cattle  were  badly  bruised  and  sometimes  there  was  consider- 
able loss. 

S.  W.  Allen  and  myself  were  largely  engaged  in  this  shipping 
business,  keeping  one  or  two  steamers  chartered  for  our  own 
use. 

Subsequently  when  the  railroad  to  Brashear  City  on  Ber- 
wick's Bay  was  completed  and  the  Morgan  steamers  connected 
with  that  railway,  our  cattle  were  shipped  by  that  route,  which 
was  much  shorter  and  safer  for  the  stock  than  the  outside  pass- 
age by  the  Balize.  Shipments  were  made  by  this  route  until 
the  railroad  was  completed  from  Houston  to  New  Orleans,  when 
the  traffic  was  transferred  to  that  line.  This  last  was  after  I 
had  quit  the  business. 

We  made  much  money  in  those  days  in  the  purchase  of  stocks 
of  cattle  by  hundreds  and  thousands,  shipping  the  calves  and 
yearlings  and  fat  cattle,  and  taking  the  large  profits  to  repur- 
chase and  ship  again,  keeping  up  a  continual  traffic.  When  the 
War  between  the  States  came  on  it  put  a  stop  to  this  profitable 
business  of  ours.  We  resumed  it  after  the  war  was  over.  In 
a  short  time,  however,  I  betook  myself  to  other  employments. 

Soon  the  Northwest  was  opened  up  to  us  by  railway,  and  to- 
day Texas  cattle  are  found  in  the  markets  of  the  world. 

In  other  points  besides  transportation  the  cattle  business  has 
undergone  a  great  change.  In  1847  I  lived  upon  my  little  place 
and  had  a  vast  territory  of  millions  of  acres  of  land  unfenced, 
with  grass  entirely  free  for  my  cattle.  My  brand  was  recorded 
in  Harris,  Galveston,  Brazoria,  Fort  Bend,  and  Austin  coun- 
ties. Some  men  would  rent  a  small  tract  of  land  and  have  the 
same  privilege,  and  at  times  others  would  merely  squat  down 
at  a  "water-hole"  and  enjoy  the  same  benefits  and  no  complaints 
be  heard.  After  a  while,  as  settlers  began  to  come  in,  you  would 
hear  mutterings  from  some  about  things  being  too  free.  Then 
in  the  course  of  time,  some  ten  or  twelve  years  ago,  the  State 


140  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


began  to  look  after  the  "children's  grass,"  as  that  on  the  school 
lands  was  called,  and  passed  laws  making  it  a  penal  offense  to 
graze  and  herd  stock  upon  the  public  school  lands  unless  the 
same  were  leased.  This  soon  led  to  cattlemen  fencing  in  their 
land,  so  that  now  there  is  not  much  actual  free  grass  in  the 
State,  grass  for  the  most  part  being  in  large  pastures;  thus  it 
requires  much  capital  to  run  an  extensive  ranch  whether  you 
own  or  lease  the  land. 

This  interest  received  a  very  severe  shock  a  few  years  since. 
Prices  became  inflated,  and  the  cattle  kings  purchased  large 
bodies  of  land  and  great  herds,  when  prices  tumbled  and  crushed 
many  in  their  fall.  However,  things  are  now  looking  better. 

Texas  is  a  fine  cattle  raising  country.  It  is  particularly  good 
breeding  ground.  Cattle  mature  very  early;  heifers  calve  at 
from  eighteen  months  to  two  years  old;  the  seasons  are  mild, 
and  there  is  little  or  no  disease  on  the  open  prairie.  I  have 
long  been  of  the  opinion  that  it  would  be  more  remunerative 
to  the  stockmen  of  Texas  to  reduce  their  herds  to  better  im- 
proved breeds,  provide  for  them  in  the  cold  winters,  and  market 
all  while  young,  except  such  large  cattle  as  they  may  be  able 
to  feed.  Thus  so  much  pasture  land  will  not  be  necessary. 
The  cattle  business  is  a  nice,  clean,  profitable  one,  and  will  pay 
if  intelligently  conducted.  I  speak  of  neat  cattle  mostly,  be- 
cause I  have  had  much  experience  in  that  line.  Horses  and 
sheep  do  well  in  Texas.  Particularly  is  the  raising  of  mules  re- 
munerative; and  there  is  no  farmer  in  the  State  with  a  reason- 
able number  of  acres  that  can  not  in  addition  to  his  usual  crops 
rear  for  his  own  use  his  oxen,  horses,  mules,  milch  cows,  hogs, 
and  muttons. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  141 


CHAPTEE  EIGHT. 

Honors  to  President-elect  Houston  En  Route  to  the  Capital  —  His 
Inauguration  and  the  Inaugural  Ball  —  Appointments  by  the  Presi- 
dent—Comptroller Again  —  How  Austin  Then  Appeared  —  Resign 
the  Comptrollership  and  Return  to  Houston  —  The  Workings  of  Re- 
trenchment —  The  Exchequer  System  in  Finance  —  The  Vasquez  raid 
—  Called  Session  of  Congress  at  Houston  —  The  Woll  Raid  —  Volun- 
teers—  The  Somervell  Expedition  —  Dissensions  and  Disaster  at  Mier 
—  The  Texas  Prisoners  —  Congress  at  Washington  —  Depreciation  of 
the  Exchequers  —  Seat  of  Government  Troubles  —  Complimentary 
Resolutions  to  President  Houston 

A  few  weeks  after  the  election  General  Houston  and  lady  had 
quite  an  ovation  given  them  by  their  home  people  at  San 
Augustine,  including  a  grand  ball  at  night.  This  was  shortly 
followed  by  a  kind  of  ratification  meeting  by  his  friends  at 
Nacogdoches  and  Crockett,  in  which  very  complimentary  resolu- 
tions of  respect  and  confidence  in  the  hero  of  San  Jacinto  were 
passed. 

Not  to  be  outdone,  the  friends  of  Old  Sam  in  the  city  of 
Houston  called  a  large  meeting  (of  which  I.  N.  Moreland  was 
chairman  and  I  the  secretary)  and  offered  him  the  freedom  of 
our  city.  Accordingly,  the  President-elect,  on  his  way  to  Aus- 
tin, visited  us  and  received  a  royal  welcome. 

Met  at  the  suburbs  of  the  capital  city  by  an  imposing  proces- 
sion, civil  and  military,  General  Houston  was  escorted  to  the 
Eberly  House,  prepared  for  his  reception. 

I  was  not  present  at  the  inauguration  of  President  Houston 
at  Austin,  but  I  gathered  this  account  of  it  from  contemporane- 
ous newspapers  and  other  sources  considered  reliable : 

After  several  days  of  elaborate  preparation,  the  inauguration 
of  General  Houston  came  off  at  the  old  wooden  capitol,  on  De- 
cember 13,  1841.  The  day  was  beautiful,  and  thousands  had 
collected  from  every  part  of  the  Republic  to  witness  the  impos- 
ing ceremonies.  To  accommodate  the  sightseers,  who  swarmed 
on  the  ground  at  an  early  hour,  a  staging  had  been  erected,  and 
seats  prepared  under  a  beautiful  awning  spread  in  the  rear  of 
the  capitol.  These  seats  were  occupied  by  both  houses  of  Con- 


142  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIKS. 


gress  and  a  brilliant  assemblage  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  Presi- 
dent Lamar  and  President-elect  Houston  were  escorted  in  mili- 
tary style  by  the  Travis  Guards  from  the  President's  house  to 
the  capitol.  President-elect  Houston  and  Vice-President-elect 
Burleson,  attended  by  committees,  made  their  appearance  at  11 
a.  m.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Judge  E.  E.  B.  Baylor,  and  the 
Speaker  of  the  House  administered  the  oaths.  When  General 
Houston  kissed  the  book  as  a  seal  to  his  official  oath,  one  of  the 
"Twin  Sisters"  belched  forth  her  hoarse  approval,  and  the  mul- 
titude, taken  by  surprise,  joined  in  with  bursts  of  applause. 

On  conclusion  of  the  ceremonies,  both  houses  of  Congress 
dined  with  the  President,  on  his  invitation,  at  the  Eberly  House. 

The  inevitable  inaugural  ball  followed  at  night.  The  Senate 
chamber  on  this  occasion  was  tastily  decorated  with  the  Texan 
and  the  American  flags  and  the  Mexican  standards  captured  at 
San  Jacinto.  A  very  beautiful  transparency  of  the  words,  "The 
Laws  and  the  Constitution,"  surrounded  by  a  star  formed  by 
burnished  bayonets  and  supported  by  a  well-arranged  ground  of 
muskets,  attracted  general  attention  and  admiration. 

General  Houston  was  present,  adding  to  the  gayety  of  the 
occasion  by  his  extreme  affability;  but  there  was  a  general  re- 
gret at  the  absence  of  Mrs.  Houston,  detained  at  Galveston  by 
ill  health.  The  beauty  and  chivalry  of  the  Republic  filled  the 
room  to  overflowing,  and  the  festivities,  lasting  till  the  still 
hours  of  the  morning,  passed  away  joyously. 

The  President's  first  appointments  made  known  were :  Anson 
Jones,  Secretary  of  State ;  Geo.  W.  Hockley,  Secretary  of  War ; 
Geo.  W.  Terrill,  Attorney-General;  Asa  Brigham,  Treasurer; 
Francis  R.  Lubbock,  Comptroller ;  Gail  Borden,  Collector  of  the 
Port  of  Galveston,  and  Jas.  Reiley,  Charge  d' Affaires  to  the 
United  States. 

All  these  nominations  were  confirmed  at  once  by  the  Senate. 

The  notification  of  my  appointment  was  written  by  Wm.  D. 
Miller,  his  private  secretary,  and  bears  Houston's  characteristic 
autograph.  People  used  to  say  that  he  made  it  so  as  to  read  "I 
am  Houston." 

On  receiving  my  appointment  I  repaired  by  stage  at  once  to 
Austin,  where  I  received  a  cordial  greeting  from  the  President, 
then  domiciled  at  the  Eberly  House. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  143 


At  that  time  Austin  was  quite  a  village,  having  only  about  800 
inhabitants.  On  the  exposed  frontier  the  town  was  occasionally 
raided  by  Indians,  who  stole  horses  and  murdered  people  in  close 
proximity  to  the  capitol.  At  nights  I  felt  safer  at  my  quarters 
than  on  the  streets,  and  you  were  pretty  sure  to  find  a  Congress- 
man at  his  boarding  house  after  sundown.  Whether  owing  to 
the  disappearance  of  the  Indians  or  not  I  will  not  say,  but  it  is 
certain  that  our  modern  legislators  travel  around  more  at  night 
than  did  their  honorable  predecessors. 

The  capitol  then  stood  on  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Colorado 
Streets,  and  faced  Congress  Avenue.  It  was  a  one-story  frame 
building  made  of  lumber  from  the  Bastrop  pine  mills,  and 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  hall. 

The  most  elegant  looking  building  was  the  executive  mansion, 
a  neat  two-story  frame  building  painted  white.  St.  Mary's 
Academy  now  stands  on  the  same  site.  It  was  not  occupied  at 
the  time  by  the  President,  as  Mrs.  Houston  was  absent  and  said 
to  be  visiting  relatives  in  Alabama.  The  other  public  buildings 
of  Austin,  then  scattered  along  the  avenue  or  at  a  little  distance 
from  it  east  or  west,  were  but  rough  little  shanties. 

I  qualified  and  assumed  the  duties  of  the  Comptroller's  office, 
which  I  held  but  a  short  time.  I  was  clerk  of  the  District 
Court  of  Harris  County  when  I  was  appointed  Comptroller,  and 
I  now  had  to  choose  between  these  offices.  My  home  being  in 
Harris  County,  and  the  clerk's  office  being  then  more  lucrative, 
I  resigned  the  office  of  Comptroller  and  returned  to  Houston, 
preferring  the  office  of  clerk. 

The  President  then  made  me  one  of  his  aids,  and  I  served  on 
his  staff  as  aid  during  his  entire  term,  with  the  rank  of  colonel 
of  cavalry. 

The  Sixth  Congress  proceeded  promptly  to  complete  the  re- 
forms of  the  Lamar  administration  before  the  inauguration  of 
General  Houston.  This  was  accomplished  by  "An  Act  to  abolish 
certain  offices  therein  named,  and  to  fix  the  salaries  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  civil  list,"  etc. 

The  offices  of  Commissioner  of  Eevenue,  Stock  Bureau,  Trans- 
lator of  the  General  Land  Office,  Commissary  of  Subsistence, 
Quartermaster  and  Paymaster  General  of  the  Eegular  Army 
were  abolished. 


144  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


As  to  salaries,  the  President  was  cut  down  from  $10,000  to 
$5000  per  annum;  the  Vice-President  and  Attorney-General 
from  $3000  to  $1000 ;  Secretaries  of  State,  Treasury,  and  War 
and  Navy  (consolidated),  from  $3500  to  $1500  each;  the  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  from  $5000  to  $1750 ;  chief  clerks 
of  various  departments,  from  $1500  to  $600,  and  so  on  down  the 
list  in  the  same  proportion.  As  an  evidence  of  their  patriotic 
sincerity,  the  Congressmen  did  not  forget  to  cut  down  their  own 
per  diem  from  $5  to  $3. 

There  had  been  such  a  howl  over  Lamar's  extravagance  that 
it  must  have  been  with  a  kind  of  grim  satisfaction  that  he 
signed  this  retrenchment  law  for  the  benefit  of  his  successor 
two  days  before  coming  into  power. 

The  first  thing  for  the  new  President  was  to  devise  another 
financial  system  and  to  adjust  his  administration  to  the  differ- 
ent conditions.  The  government  paper  had  depreciated  to  about 
15  cents  on  the  dollar,  and  the  Republic  was  without  cash  or 
credit. 

So  the  Congress,  on  Houston's  recommendation,  adopted  what 
was  called  the  exchequer  system.  Bills  not  to  exceed  in  amount 
$200,000  were  to  be  emitted,  receivable  for  all  public  dues  at 
par  with  gold  and  silver.  With  reviving  confidence,  this  plan 
promised  well,  and  the  exchequer  system  was  pronounced  a  suc- 
cess at  the  beginning  and  before  any  test.  Bills  only  to  the  ex- 
tent of  $50,000  were  issued  at  first  to  pay  the  necessary  expenses 
of  the  government,  and  then  more,  according  to  the  financial 
pressure.  To  be  all  right  the  exchequers  only  lacked  some  tangi- 
ble redemption  fund. 

Under  an  apparent  reduction  of  salaries,  the  officials  under 
the  Houston  administration  were  for  a  while  better  paid  than 
their  predecessors.  The  public  debt  at  the  close  of  Lamar's  ad- 
ministration was  estimated  at  $7,704,328.  This  was  the  high 
water  mark  of  the  Republic's  indebtedness,  the  only  subsequent 
increase  being  from  interest.  The  funded  debt  at  this  time  was 
roughly  put  at  about  $2,000,000. 

As  a  cause  for  extraordinary  expenditures,  Lamar  pleaded: 
an  Indian  war  inherited  from  Houston's  former  administra- 
tion ;  the  expulsion  of  the  Cherokees ;  the  assertion  of  the  right 
of  Texas  to  Santa  Fe  by  the  Santa  Fe  expedition,  and  the  pro- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  145 


tection  of  the  Kio  Grande  frontier  so  effectually  as  to  prevent 
Mexican  raids  into  Texas.  Besides  this,  the  rapid  depreciation 
of  Texas  paper  money,  like  that  of  all  other  countries  when  not 
properly  secured,  made  the  expenditures  towards  the  end  appear 
frightfully  large. 

Early  in  March  came  the  news  of  a  Mexican  invasion.  Con- 
gress had  already  adjourned  and  left  Austin,  and  General  Hous- 
ton was  at  Galveston.  Vasquez,  with  about  800  raiders,  had 
struck  San  Antonio  and  threatened  Austin.  General  Burleson, 
with  a  considerable  force,  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action ;  but  the 
enemy,  after  plundering  the  city,  had  fled.  Meanwhile  the 
President,  thinking  the  archives  in  danger,  ordered  them  re- 
moved to  the  city  of  Houston.  This  order  enraged  the  residents 
of  Austin  and  vicinity,  but  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  ap- 
proval of  it  elsewhere. 

In  the  special  session  of  Congress  at  Houston,  in  the  summer^ 
the  most  exciting  thing  was  the  bill  for  offensive  war  against 
Mexico.  The  bill  seemed  calculated  to  allay  the  public  feeling 
on  the  then  recent  Mexican  raid.  Houston  seemed  to  favor  the 
bill  till  it  passed  both  Houses,  when  he  vetoed  it  on  constitu- 
tional grounds.  The  veto  called  forth  a  storm  of  indignation 
from  the  volunteers  in  the  proposed  invasion;  but  the  people 
were  doubtless  satisfied. 

Congress  being  checkmated  in  their  attempt  to  carry  on 
"offensive  war  against  Mexico,"  hastily  adjourned  without  pass- 
ing any  defensive  measures  to  meet  the  enemy.  The  bad  effects 
of  this  failure  to  put  the  country  in  a  proper  posture  of  defense 
soon  appeared.  The  Mexicans,  now  thinking  that  they  could 
raid  with  impunity  on  Texas,  made  what  is  known  as  the  Woll 
raid. 

On  September  11,  1842,  General  Woll  with  1300  men  com- 
pletely surprised  and  captured  San  Antonio.  The  city  was 
plundered  a  second  time  during  the  year  and  more  than  fifty 
citizens  carried  off  as  prisoners,  including  the  judge  of  the  dis- 
trict court  then  in  session,  our  former  Judge  and  ex-Lieut. - 
Gov.  Jas.  W.  Robinson,  District  Attorney  George  Blow,  Sam 
Maverick,  John  Twohig,  and  George  Brown.  Colonel  Caldwell, 
Captain  Hays  and  others  rallied  a  small  force  and  engaged  the 
enemy  as  best  they  could.  In  this  fighting  around  'San  Antonio 
10 


146  LUB  BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


Captain  Dawson  and  company  of  fifty-three  men  were  sur- 
rounded by  superior  numbers  of  Mexicans  and  all  massacred 
but  ten  or  twelve.  On  the  20th,  Woll,  without  serious  damage, 
began  his  retrograde  march  to  the  Rio  Grande.  Meanwhile 
thousands  of  gallant  Texans  had  crowded  to  the  scene  of  action, 
but  the  foe  had  fled  with  his  plunder  and  prisoners. 

The  news  of  Woll's  capture  of  San  Antonio  reached  our  city 
on  the  16th  of  September,  and  the  President  immediately  made 
a  call  for  troops.  In  response,  the  Milam  Guards  and  Mosely 
Baker's  company,  with  Sherman's  cavalry,  volunteered,  and  set 
out  in  a  few  days  for  the  seat  of  war.  We  arrived  at  Columbus 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  month  and  remained  there  in  camp  till 
turned  back  by  orders  of  General  Somervell  as  not  being  needed, 
for  the  reason  perhaps  that  Woll  had  already  retreated. 

We  accordingly  returned  home,  but  Thomas  S.  Lubbock,  com- 
manding N".  0.  Smith's  company,  marched  on  to  San  Antonio. 
The  President  promptly  appointed  Gen.  A.  Somervell  to  com- 
mand the  forces  in  and  around  San  Antonio.  The  general 
reached  San  Antonio  about  November  1st,  finding  nearly  1200 
men  on  the  ground.  The  soldiers  preferred  Burleson  as  a  com- 
mander, and  the  greater  part  of  Bennet's  regiment  from  Mont- 
gomery returned  home.  The  remnants  of  commands  were  con- 
solidated into  a  regiment  under  Col.  Jos.  R.  Cook,  Lieut. -Col. 
Geo.  T.  Howard,  and  Maj.  D.  Murphree,  and  a  battalion  under 
Bennet.  John  Hemphill  was  the  adjutant-general,  and  Col. 
Wm.  G.  Cooke  the  quartermaster. 

After  a  long  delay,  on  November  29th — two  months  after 
Woll's  departure — Somervell  with  about  750  men  set  out  in  pur- 
suit. Houston's  order  of  October  3d  to  Somervell  read  thus: 
"You  will  proceed  to  the  most  eligible  point  on  the  southwest- 
ern frontier  of  Texas  and  concentrate  with  the  men  now  under 
your  command  all  troops  who  may  submit  to  your  order,  and  if 
you  can  advance  with  a  prospect  of  success  into  the  enemy's 
territory,  you  will  do  so  forthwith.  .  .  .  You  will  receive 
no  troops  into  your  command  but  such  as  will  march  across  the 
Rio  Grande  under  your  orders  if  required  by  you  so  to  do.  If 
you  cross  the  Rio  Grande,  you  must  suffer  no  surprise." 

This  order  of  the  President  clearly  indicates  that  an  effective 
campaign  on  the  Rio  Grande  was  expected. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  147 


Laredo  was  occupied  by  the  Texans  early  in  December.  The 
evening  of  the  next  day  they  marched,  as  ordered,  down  the  Rio 
Grande  on  the  east  side.  At  the  next  day's  council  of  war  eleven 
captains  voted  in  favor  of  crossing  the  river  and  fighting  the 
enemy.  As  to  a  commander,  the  whole  army  without  a  dissent- 
ing voice  voted  for  Somervell  when  he  said  that  he  would  lead 
them  towards  the  enemy.  Later,  200  out  of  the  740  present 
voted  to  return  home,  which  they  at  once  proceeded  to  do  under 
the  leadership  of  Colonel  Bennett  and  Capts.  Jerome  B.  and  E. 
S.  C.  Robertson. 

Somervell  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  with  his  army  December 
14th.  General  Canales  with  700  men  appeared  in  front.  The 
Texans  were  restrained  by  their  commander  from  attacking  the 
enemy  then  in  sight.  After  an  ineffectual  effort  to  get  suitable 
rations,  the  next  day  Somervell  ordered  the  army  to  recross  the 
river  back  into  Texas.  The  order  for  the  march  back  to  San 
Antonio  was  issued  on  the  19th.  Only  about  200  men  obeyed, 
from  convictions  of  duty  to  the  legal  commander.  Among  them 
were :  Capt.  P.  H.  Bell,  afterwards  Governor ;  John  Hemphill, 
later  Chief  Justice;  Lieut.  Thos.  S.  Lubbock,  Lieut.  John  P. 
Borden,  Memucan  Hunt,  Lieut.  Moses  A.  Bryan,  Lieut.  John 
Henry  Brown,  Ed.  Levin,  Capt.  Jas.  A.  Sylvester,  and  the  staffs. 
The  majority  of  the  army,  304  men,  refused  to  obey  SomervelPs 
order,  chose  Colonel  Fisher  as  their  leader,  and  marched  down 
the  river.  Col.  Thos.  J.  Green  commanded  the  Texan  flotilla, 
on  which  were  my  old  Major  Bonnell,  now  acting  as  lieutenant, 
and  Dr.  R.  Brenham,  acting  as  surgeon.  On  the  night  of  the 
21st  of  December  the  land  and  naval  forces  camped  together  at 
a  point  seven  miles  above  the  town  of  Mier.  The  next  morning 
Capt.  Ben  McCulloch  with,  a  few  picked  men  reconnoitered  the 
town  to  ascertain  the  presence  and  numbers  of  the  enemy,  if 
any,  in  that  vicinity.  On  his  return  Colonel  Fisher  crossed  the 
river  with  his  army  and  occupied  Mier.  A  requisition  for  sup- 
plies was  duly  made  upon  the  alcalde,  who  was  taken  to  camp 
by  Colonel  Green. 

A  few  days  later  they  learned  that  supplies  started  to  them 
from  Mier  had  been  intercepted  by  General  Ampudia  with  700 
men,  then  reported  to  be  in  the  neighborhood.  Left  to  a  vote  of 
the  army,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  cross  the  Rio  Grande 
and  attack  the  Mexican  army. 


148  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Late  on  the  same  day,  December  25th,  Colonels  Fisher  and 
Green  with  their  forces  passed  the  river  and  at  once  engaged  the 
enemy.  The  fight  continued  favorably  to  the  Texans  till  next 
day,  when  Colonel  Fisher,  being  wounded,  was  induced  to  sur- 
render his  little  army  of  about  300  men  as  prisoners  of  war. 
General  Ampudia,  who  had  more  than  2000  men,  stipulated  "to 
treat  all  who  will  give  up  their  arms  with  the  consideration 
which  is  in  accordance  with  the  magnanimous  Mexican  na- 
tion." 

These  terms  were  wholly  disregarded.  The  Texans  were 
treated  as  felons  and  decimated  for  an  attempted  escape.  It  was 
Waddy  Thompson,  the  American  Minister  to  Mexico,  that  kept 
them  all  from  being  shot.  Whether  their  acts  were  authorized 
or  not,  the  Texans  had  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war,  and  all 
fair-minded  men  held  that  the  terms  of  surrender  ought  to  be 
observed. 

Ultimately  Mr.  Thompson  obtained  from  Santa  Anna  the  re- 
lease of  all  the  survivors  of  the  Santa  Fe  and  Mier  expeditions, 
and  received  for  his  kindness  the  thanks  of  the  Texan  Con- 
gress. 

In  October  the  President  issued  his  proclamation  for  an  extra 
session  of  Congress  to  convene  at  Washington  on  November 
14th.  The  members  of  Congress  came  in  so  slowly  that  there 
was  no  quorum  for  business  for  about  two  weeks.  The  dissatis- 
faction about  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  may  have 
contributed  to  their  delay.  The  reasons  for  the  last  removal  ap- 
pear to  have  been  on  the  commendable  ground  of  economy,  to 
avoid  the  annual  payment  of  $5000  for  the  use  of  the  capitol 
building  by  the  government;  and  further,  it  appears  from  a 
statement  of  President  Houston  (in  answer  to  a  request  for  in- 
formation by  the  Senate  as  to  the  McFarland  account  against 
Texas)  that  "W.  Y.  McFarland  proposed  on  the  part  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  town  of  Washington  that  they  would  remove  the 
papers  and  public  stores  and  also  furnish  comfortable  rooms  for 
all  the  officers,  to  provide  and  furnish  suitable  buildings  for  the 
honorable  Congress  in  which  to  meet  and  hold  its  sessions.  All 
of  which  was  to  be  done  without  cost  or  expense  to  the  govern- 
ment." 

Whether  Judge  MeFarland  ever  got  pay  for  his  trouble  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  149 


expense  or  not  I  do  not  now  remember.  Perhaps  not,  as  Wash- 
ington ceased  to  be  the  capital  in  1846.  As  a  fact,  however,  the 
upper  rooms  over  the  two  saloons  were  used  as  legislative  cham- 
bers for  a  while  at  least. 

The  Mexican  raids  and  removal  of  the  capital  had  affected 
the  public  credit  and  the  finances  were  again  in  an  unsatisfac- 
tory condition.  The  exchequers  had  depreciated  to  25  or  30  cents 
on  the  dollar,  though  only  $125,000  in  those  bills  had  been  is- 
sued. With  all  the  economy  in  abolishing  or  amalgamating  the 
offices  and  reduction  of  the  official  salaries,  the  government  was 
still  driven  to  the  most  desperate  straits  for  existence.  Hence 
President  Houston's  bargain  with  Judge  McFarland  to  save 
money. 

For  the  failure  of  the  exchequer  system  up  to  this  time,  the 
President  blamed  Congress  for  not  giving  him  authority  as  re- 
quested to  hypothecate  and  sell  the  Cherokee  lands  as  a  redemp- 
tion fund,  and  for  the  six  months  postponement  in  the  collection 
of  the  direct  tax.  And  as  a  relief,  he  recommended  the  prohibi- 
tion by  law  of  the  circulation  in  the  Eepublic  of  all  notes  of 
individuals,  corporations,  or  of  foreign  banks. 

Not  halting  in  the  work  of  retrenchment,  the  finance  commit- 
tee recommended  the  recall  of  all  our  foreign  representatives 
abroad  and  the  abolishment  of  two  more  departments.  The  du- 
ties of  the  Treasury  Department  were  to  be  done  by  a  clerk  in 
the  Treasurer's  office,  and  the  amalgamated  Department  of  War 
and  Navy  was  to  be  squeezed  into  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  which  had  already  swallowed  up  the  Postoffice  Depart- 
ment. 

To  what  extent  would  this  spirit  of  retrenchment  go?  Old 
Sam  himself  could  not  be  abolished,  but  evidently  he  was  in  dan- 
ger of  being  amalgamated  with  Vice-President  Burleson  or  some 
other  unfortunate  patriot. 

But  this  was  only  a  dread  foreboding  never  to  be  realized.  The 
government  could  sacrifice  no  more — the  bottom  had  been 
reached  in  retrenchment;  henceforward  all  changes  will  be  for 
the  better. 

In  concluding  their  suggestions,  the  committee  indulged  in 
these  sage  reflections:  "It  is  a  fact  which  none  will  now  deny 
that  our  government  commenced  its  operations  in  1836  on  a 


150  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


scale  entirely  too  magnificent  and  with  a  prodigal  expenditure 
much  beyond  the  means  of  the  nation  and  its  impoverished  con- 
dition. The  evil  was  then  seen  and  its  effects  predicted  by 
some." 

There  was  endless  trouble  about  the  seat  of  government.  There 
were  numerous  efforts  in  each  house  to  enact  a  law  to  remove 
the  capital  back  to  Austin,  and  in  some  instances  to  blame  the 
President  for  a  stretch  of  authority  in  first  ordering  the  re- 
moval of  the  archives  to  Houston.  The  Constitution  provided 
that  the  archives  should  remain  at  the  seat  of  government  unless 
removed  by  permission  of  Congress,  or  unless  in  cases  of  emer- 
gency in  time  of  war  the  public  interest  may  require  their  re- 
moval. Houston's  argument  was  "that  the  emergency  did  exist 
for  their  first  removal,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that  for  their  secur- 
ity the  archives  were  buried,  and  that  the  causes  which  first  ex- 
isted under  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  for  their  removal 
by  the  executive  still  exist  with  undhninished  force,"  perhaps 
referring  to  the  exposed  condition  of  Austin  on  the  frontier  from 
both  Indian  and  Mexican  raids.  On  the  other  hand,  there  was 
a  strong  but  unsuccessful  effort  to  locate  the  seat  of  government 
permanently  at  Washington. 

And  looking  to  that  event,  perhaps,  President  Houston  or- 
dered Captain  Smith  with  twenty  men  to  proceed,  as  if  going 
on  an  Indian  raid,  to  Austin  and  bring  to  Washington  the 
archives  of  the  Land  Office  needed  for  the  dispatch  of  business. 
The  defeat  of  this  executive  attempt  to  complete  the  removal  of 
the  archives  by  sundry  citizens  of  Austin  added  to  the  public 
excitement  on  the  question.  And  much  useless  crimination  and 
recrimination  was  indulged  in  between  the  President  and  the 
archive  committee.  Finally  a  bill  to  return  the  archives  to  Aus- 
tin passed  both  houses,  but  the  President  vetoed  it  on  the  ground 
that  though  now  at  peace  with  Mexico  and  the  Indians,  hostili- 
ties were  liable  to  break  out  at  any  time,  in  which  event  Austin 
might  be  captured ;  that  Washington  was  the  constitutional  seat 
of  government ;  that  the  several  acts  of  Congress  fixing  the  seat 
of  government  elsewhere  were  all  unconstitutional.  The  ques- 
tion went  over  to  the  Jones  administration. 

Houston's  second  administration  was  a  stormy  one.  The 
financial  difficulties,  the  Mexican  raids,  the  seat  of  government 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  151 


contention,  the  Regulators  and  Moderators  in  East  Texas,  and 
the  Shelby  County  war  all  retarded  the  prosperity  of  the  Re- 
public. Nor  was  the  official  intercourse  between  the  executive 
and  legislative  department  of  the  government  characterized  by 
the  usual  spirit  of  urbanity  in  such  cases. 

The  archive  committee  in  their  report,  which  lacked  one  vote 
of  being  adopted  (signed  by  Tod  Robinson  and  John  Caldwell), 
dealt  the  President  some  heavy  blows  in  reply  to  one  of  his 
messages  on  the  subject  of  the  archives. 

The  committee  on  Indian  affairs,  reporting  through  their 
chairman,  Gen.  Thos.  J.  Green,  rapped  the  executive  for  his 
alleged  slander  of  the  Republic  in  his  statement  as  to  the  treat- 
ment of  the  Indians  by  Texas. 

And  the  committee  on  foreign  affairs,  composed  of  Levi  Jones, 
Thos.  J.  Green,  Wm.  L.  Cazneau,  Sam  A.  Maverick,  J.  B.  J. 
January,  and  L.  S.  Hagler,  rebuked  the  President  in  severe 
terms  for  withholding  information  (asked  by  resolution)  as  to 
the  matters  then  pending  with  Mexico  and  the  United  States. 

But  on  Houston's  retirement  from  office  both  houses  of  Con- 
gress by  resolution  vindicated  him  from  all  the  charges  in  circu- 
lation against  him,  and  commended  his  patriotic  statesman- 
ship. 

So  in  the  end  Old  Sam  beat  all  his  enemies  and  came  out  of 
the  furnace  unscathed. 

The  greatest  of  his  triumphs  was  that  of  finance.  In  the  midst 
of  perplexities  sufficient  to  unnerve  a  common  statesman,  Hous- 
ton guided  the  ship  of  state  .from  the  shoals  of  bankruptcy  to 
the  deep  sea  of  a  "most  healthy  and  prosperous  financial  condi- 
tion." During  his  last  year  in  office  the  expenditures  had  gotten 
to  be  within  the  receipts.  The  total  expenditures  of  his  admin- 
istration were  but  $511,000,  including  a  bill  of  $50,000  brought 
over  from  Lamar's  administration.  The  Postal  Department  in 
its  reduced  condition  was  run  on  $29,000,  while  $252,970  was 
expended  for  mail  facilities  under  Lamar. 

As  to  his  retrenchment  policy,  the  President  remarked  in  his 
last  message :  "Much  hardship  has  been  encountered  and  some- 
times extreme  perplexity  endured  by  all  the  public  officers  from 
the  fluctuations  to  which  the  currency  has  been  subjected.  But 
they  have  the  satisfaction  to  know  that  although  they  have  fre- 


152  LUB  BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


quently  received  less  than  one-half  the  compensation  assigned 
them  by  law  for  their  services,  they  have  materially  assisted  in 
sustaining  their  country  in  the  time  of  difficulty  and  need." 

As  early  as  the  summer  of  1843  Houston's  friends  were  look- 
ing around  for  a  suitable  man  to  succeed  "Old  Sam"  as  Presi- 
dent. 

Hemphill  and  Henderson  had  each  a  strong  following.  A 
meeting  at  San  Augustine  nominated  Lipscomb,  and  General 
Rusk  was  nominated  by  an  enthusiastic  convention  at  Nacog- 
doches.  But  Dr.  Anson  Jones,  Secretary  of  State,  seemed  to 
be  Houston's  preference,"  and  he  finally  got  the  field  to  him- 
self under  the  implied  pledge  to  carry  out  Houston's  policies. 
In  November,  1843,  Dr.  Jones  received  the  nomination  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Republic  from  the  citizens  of  Independence,  and  was 
notified  of  the  same  by  Moses  Park,  J.  M.  Norris,  and  E.  W. 
Taylor,  as  committee  of  correspondence.  A  few  days  later  he 
received  notice  of  his  nomination  at  San  Augustine  from  0.  M. 
Roberts,  W.  Edwards,  H.  Griffith,  S.  H.  Sweet,  and  A.  Clark. 

That  Anson  Jones  was  Houston's  choice  for  President  also 
appears  from  the  La  Grange  Intelligencer  of  June  6,  1844,  quot- 
ing from  the  Vindicator  of  May  25th  these  words :  "Our  all  ia 
at  stake.  Our  candidate  will  continue  the  policy  of  General 
Houston  in  undiminished  energy.  Let  us  then  toss  to  the  winds 
all  personal  considerations  and  private  feelings  and  vote  for  the 
man  who  can  best  subserve  the  interests  of  the  country.  That 
man  is  Anson  Jones." 

As  put  by  the  Intelligencer  August  15,  1844:  "Burleson — 
Annexation,  Texas,  and  Liberty.  Jones — Anti-Annexation, 
England,  and  Abolition." 

Mosely  Baker  thus  advised  Burleson  as  to  annexation :  "Let 
your  whole  heart  and  soul  and  energies  be  constantly  engaged  in 
bringing  about  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States." 
— Intelligencer,  August  4,  1844. 

•  "  If  any  one  is  to  be  preferred  by  my  friends  in  a  contest  for  the 
presidency,  I  am  sure  they  will  concentrate  most  readily  upon  the  man 
who  has  sustained  my  administration  by  his  exertions  and  capacity. 
I  can  see  no  reason  why  my  friends  can  not  rally  upon  you,  as 
you  will  most  distinctly  represent  the  principles  which  they  advocate." 
Houston  to  Jones,  August,  1845,  Jones'  Mem.,  p.  241.) 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  153 


Meanwhile  the  opposition,  or  the  anti-Houston  party,  had 
centered  on  Gen.  Edward  Burleson  as  their  candidate  for  the 
presidency.  General  Burleson  himself,  though  representing  the 
opposition,  was  quite  conservative  in  his  views,  approving  part 
of  Houston's  policies  and  disapproving  others.  His  promise  to 
have  returned  the  archives  to  Austin  in  the  event  of  his  elec- 
tion, however,  made  one  square  issue.  But  Jones  weakened  the 
effect  of  this  by  saying  that  he  would  not  oppose  the  will  of  the 
people  on  that  or  any  other  subject.  No  truer  man  ever  lived 
in  Texas  than  General  Burleson,  and  the  worst  thing  said 
against  him  outside  of  his  opposing  Houston's  policies  was  that 
he  lacked  the  proper  education  for  the  presidential  chair.  The 
general  was  more  familiar  with  the  use  of  his  sword  than  of  his 
pen ;  and  he  had  used  that  sword  in  the  defense  of  Texas.  And 
that  was  enough  to  condone  for  a  multitude  of  faults  other- 
wise. 

But  annexation  was  the  coming  test  question  in  our  politics. 

Meanwhile  a  strange  piece  of  diplomacy  was  being  acted  in 
Texas.  Ex-Lieut. -Gov.  James  W.  Eobinson,  one  of  the  Woll 
prisoners  taken  at  San  Antonio,  to  effect  his  liberation  from  the 
Perote  fortress,  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Santa  Anna 
whereby  he  was  to  carry  the  propositions  of  peace  to  the  Texans. 
From  Robinson's  representations,  Santa  Anna  was  led  to  be- 
lieve that  the  Texans  would  submit  to  Mexican  rule  condition- 
ally. At  all  events,  in  the  spring  of  1843,  Robinson  returned  to 
Galveston  with  Santa  Anna's  proposition.  An  outline  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Galveston  papers,  but  the  official  document  itself 
from  the  hand  of  Santa  Anna  was  delivered  by  Robinson  in  per- 
son to  President  Houston  at  Washington.  The  report  of  Robin- 
son's arrival  and  the  object  of  his  mission  excited  considerable 
surprise,  and  when  Santa  Anna's  scheme  became  fully  developed 
men  like  Mosely  Baker  were  indignant.  It  appeared  that  Santa 
Anna  offered  a  general  amnesty  to  the  Texans  on  these  funda- 
mental conditions:  That  the  Texans  recognize  the  sovereignty 
of  Mexico,  her  laws,  ordinances,  and  general  orders.  In  return 
for  this,  Texas  was  to  be  allowed  to  make  her  own  laws  and 
choose  her  own  officials,  civil  and  military,  and  that  no  Mexican 
troops  should  be  stationed  in  Texas. 

As  a  matter  of  good  faith,  perhaps,  to  Santa  Anna,  Robinson 


154  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


made  in  the  Galveston  papers  a  plausible  argument  to  show  the 
advantage  to  Texas  of  a  union  with  Mexico,  cotton  being  insured 
under  the  Mexican  tariff  to  bring  25  cents  a  pound. 

But  Robinson  had  to  report  the  result  of  his  mission,  and  did 
not  know  how  to  do  it.  President  Houston  relieved  Robinson  of 
his  embarrassment  and  dictated  the  report  himself.  It  was  one 
of  Houston's  ablest  state  papers,  and  it  accomplished  the  desired 
object.  Santa  Anna,  not  suspecting  who  was  the  real  author, 
was  utterly  bewildered  at  the  improved  condition  and  prospects 
of  Texas  as  shown  in  the  report.  Houston  affected  to  treat  Santa 
Anna's  proposition  with  indifference.  But  not  so.  It  really  was 
the  beginning  of  the  end — annexation.  The  President  managed, 
through  the  British  Minister  in  Mexico,  to  have  an  armistice 
declared  between  Mexico  and  Texas.  Santa  Anna  thought  he 
saw  his  opportunity  in  this  for  the  reincorporation  of  Texas  into 
the  Mexican  Confederacy,  and  assented  to  the  suspension  of 
arms  with  a  view  to  a  permanent  peace.  As  agreed  upon,  the 
Texas  commissioners,  George  W.  Hockley  and  Samuel  Williams, 
met  the  commissioners  from  Mexico  at  Sabinas,  not  far  west  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  about  the  1st  of  October,  1844.  The  object  of 
the  Texans  appears  to  have  been  merely  to  gain  time  to  work  up 
the  annexation  feeling  in  the  United  States  and  Texas. 

Of  course,  the  protocol  for  peace  with  Mexico,  in  which  our 
commissioners,  Williams  and  Hockley,  admitted  that  Texas  was 
a  department  of  Mexico,  could  not  be  allowed,  and  President 
Houston  rejected  the  document  without  ceremony  as  soon  as 
presented  to  him,  in  February,  1844. 

Taking  advantage  of  the  growing  jealousy  of  the  United 
States  as  to  Texas  being  forced  into  a  foreign  alliance  for  pro- 
tection, Mr.  Van  Zandt,  our  Minister  at  Washington  City,  was 
preparing  a  treaty  of  annexation  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Cal- 
houn,  for  submission  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

The  Texas  question  determined  the  presidential  election  in 
the  great  Republic.  Mr.  Van  Buren  opposed  annexation,  and 
was  shelved  by  the  presidential  Warwick,  General  Jackson. 
James  K.  Polk,  for  his  outspoken  advocacy  of  annexation,  got 
the  indorsement  of  Jackson  and  the  Democratic  nomination  for 
President. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  155 


The  Whigs  ran  Henry  Clay  as  their  candidate,  on  an  anti- 
annexation  platform. 

The  Democratic  slogan  in  the  United  States  was :  "Polk,  Dal- 
las, Oregon,  and  Texas;  54.40  or  fight."10  Meanwhile  Presi- 
dent Houston  had  sent  Minister  J.  P.  Henderson  to  Washington 
to  reinforce  Isaac  Van  Zandt  in  the  preparation  of  the  treaty. 

Henderson  went  to  Washington  City  with  these  instructions : 
"If  annexation  is  not  effected  at  the  present  session  of  Congress, 
or  if  a  treaty  should  fail  and  the  action  of  Congress  be  ineffec- 
tual and  they  refuse  to  form  an  alliance  with  us,  to  call  upon  the 
English  and  French  Ministers  and  ascertain  the  prospects  of 
those  governments  giving  us  a  guarantee  against  further  moles- 
tation from  Mexico  and  an  indefinite  truce." 

The  treaty,  as  perfected  and  signed  by  Henderson  and  Van 
Zandt  on  the  part  of  Texas,  and  by  John  C.  Calhoun  for  the 
United  States,  was  defeated  June  14th  in  the  United  States 
Senate  by  a  vote  of  35  to  16.11  The  contingency  foreseen  by 
Houston  had  now  arisen.  Annexation  having  been  defeated,  it 
became  the  duty  of  Messrs.  Henderson  and  Van  Zandt  to  present 
the  case  of  Texas  to  the  Ministers  of  England  and  of  France, 
"to  give  us  a  guarantee  against  further  molestation  from  Mex- 
ico." But  President  Tyler,  though  balked  in  his  first  plan,  was 
not  disposed  to  yield  the  point  of  annexation.  The  struggle 
henceforth  of  President  Tyler  to  bring  Texas  into  the  Union 
and  the  Ministers  of  England  and  of  France  to  keep  her  out, 
becomes  a  matter  of  absorbing  interest. 

After  the  rejection  of  the  treaty  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
Houston's  policy  seems  to  have  been  one  of  masterly  inactivity 
as  to  annexation.  That  is  to  say,  he  would  do  nothing  more  on 
that  line  unless  the  United  States  made  overtures.  And  who 
will  now  say  that  he  was  not  right  in  that  ?  This  policy  natur- 

10  In  allusion  to  the  United  States  claim  to  Oregon  as  far  north  as 
54°  40',  and  in  default  of  getting  that,  to  fight  England. 

1 1  The  treaty  provided  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  as  a  territory  to 
be  governed  as  other  territories  of  the  Union  till  admitted  as  a  State, 
and  that  our  public  lands,  arsenals,  and  ships  should  be  surrendered  to 
the  United  States,  in  return  for  which  that  government  was  to  pay  the 
public  debt  at  least  to  the  extent  of  $10,000,000.     The  defeat  of  the 
treaty  turned  out  in  the  end  to  be  a  good  thing  for  Texas. 


156  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ally  caused  some  rabid  annexationists  to  doubt  his  friendship  to 
annexation,  but  that  did  not  swerve  him  from  his  course.  W.  B. 
Ochiltree  in  his  letter  to  Jones,  April  13,  1845,  expresses  the 
general  opinion :  "The  position  of  General  Houston  seems  to 
be  a  matter  of  deep  canvass  between  the  parties;  both  claim 
him ;  all  acknowledge  the  weight  of  his  influence  in  either  scale." 
(J.  M.,  p.  450.) 

Democratic  principles  triumphed  in  the  United  States  in  the 
election  of  Polk  as  President,  though  by  a  narrow  margin  of  the 
popular  vote.  Clay's  letter  in  answer  to  certain  inquiries,  in 
which  he  said  that  personally  he  had  no  objection  to  the  an- 
nexation of  Texas,  probably  caused  his  defeat,  as  the  abolition- 
ists dropped  the  sage  of  Ashland  and  supported  Birney. 

Jones  was  elected  President  over  General  Burleson  by  about 
1500  votes. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  157 


OHAPTEE  NINE. 

Anson  Jones  President  —  His  Policy  Outlined  in  His  Inaugural  Address 
—  Discussion  of  Annexation  Between  Mr.  Donelson  and  Secretary 
Allen  —  The  Seat  of  Government  Trouble  Again  —  Houston  on  An- 
nexation—  My  Letter  to  President  Jones  —  Mexico  Conditionally 
Acknowledges  Independence  of  Texas  —  Various  Annexation  Meet- 
ings—  Convention  of  1845  —  The  Republic  in  Danger  —  President 
Jones  Vindicates  Himself — Annexation  Consummated  —  The  Closing 
Scene  and  the  President's  Farewell  Address. 

Dr.  Anson  Jones  assumed  the  duties  of  the  presidency  at 
Washington,  December  4,  1844,  under  the  most  favorable  aus- 
pices. The  finances  were  all  right,  as  the  exchequers  were  at  par 
with  gold  and  silver,  and  the  assurances  of  peace  and  tranquillity 
were  becoming  stronger  every  day.  Texas  was  free  from  the 
steps  of  the  invader. 

After  some  compliments  in  his  inaugural  to  his  predecessor, 
and  a  rose-colored  view  of  the  situation,  President  Jones  out- 
lined his  forthcoming  policy  as  sententiously  as  Thomas  Jeffer- 
son, thus :  A  rigid  and  impartial  execution  of  the  laws ;  a  strict 
accountability  in  all  the  offices  of  the  government;  the  main- 
tenance of  the  public  credit ;  a  reduction  of  the  expenses  of  ad- 
ministration;  the  entire  abolishment  of  paper  money  issues  by 
the  government ;  the  introduction  of  an  exclusively  hard  money 
currency;  a  tariff  sufficient  to  provide  for  the  current  expenses 
of  the  government,  and  leaving  a  small  surplus  in  the  treasury, 
with  incidental  protection  and  encouragement  to  our  agricul- 
tural and  manufacturing  interests;  the  establishment  of  a  sys- 
tem of  common  schools;  the  attainment  of  a  speedy  peace  with 
Mexico;  a  desirable  immigration  to  the  country,  and  the  intro- 
duction of  capital  to  develop  its  vast  resources ;  friendly  and  just 
relations  with  our  red  brethren ;  the  introduction  of  the  peniten- 
tiary system ;  settlement  of  land  titles ;  encouragement  of  inter- 
nal improvements,  and  extension  of  commercial  relations  with 
foreign  countries. 

President  Jones,  as  it  seemed,  had  studiously  avoided  in  his 
address  anv  allusion  to  the  subject  of  annexation. 

On  the  next  day,  however,  the  indefatigable  charge  d'affaires 


158  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


of  the  United  States,  Mr.  A.  J.  Donelson,  who  had  been  on  the 
ground  some  time,  opened  with  Ebenezer  Allen,  Attorney-Gen- 
eral and  Acting  Secretary  of  State,  a  correspondence  on  that  im- 
portant question. 

Mr.  Donelson  first  alluded  to  the  papers  placed  before  the 
Texan  government  on  the  6th  instant,  and  which  related  to  the 
treaty  of  annexation  and  the  correspondence  thereon  between 
the  United  States  Minister  in  Mexico  and  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment, and  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  the  note  of  President 
Jones  "expressing  the  satisfaction  felt  by  this  government  at  the 
course  pursued  by  the  President  of  the  United  States." 

Then  Mr.  Allen  is  informed  that  the  "executive  government 
of  the  United  States  reasonably  concludes  and  confidently  ex- 
pects that  Texas  herself  will  maintain  her  connection  with  the 
cause  of  annexation — so  far  at  least  as  not  to  consider  it  lost  or 
abandoned  on  account  of  the  late  action  of  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  upon  it,"  and  that  "it  may  be  safely  assumed 
that  annexation  is  destined  to  a  speedy  consummation  so  far  as 
the  action  of  the  United  States  can  accomplish  it."  And  fur- 
ther, "without  the  co-operation  and  sanction  of  the  government 
and  people  of  Texas,  the  measure  can  not  be  consummated. 
.  .  .  The  rejection  of  the  treaty  by  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States  was  calculated  to  create  the  belief  here  that  the 
measure  had  been  lost,  and  it  was  natural  that  this  government, 
acting  for  the  best  interests  of  the  Republic,  should  be  looking 
to  the  alternative  measures  called  for,  by  the  abandonment  of  all 
hope  of  its  incorporation  into  the  American  Union.  To  correct 
this  erroneous  inference,  the  undersigned  has  been  authorized  to 
allude  to  the  failure  of  the  treaty  as  affording  no  evidence  of  the 
abandonment  of  the  measure  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  and  to  the  public  sentiment  as  developed  by  the  canvass 
for  the  presidency,  as  justifying  the  confident  belief  already  ex- 
pressed, that  if  the  measure  is  to  be  defeated,  it  will  be  for  the 
want  of  the  necessary  support  from  Texas  herself." 

Mr.  Allen,  answering,  said  among  other  things :  "The  under- 
signed is  directed  by  the  President  to  assure  Mr.  Donelson,  in 
reply,  that  the  existing  relations  between  the  United  States  and 
Texas,  so  far  as  the  subject  of  annexation  is  concerned,  will  not 


LUB ftOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  159 


be  affected  by  any  opposing  or  unfavorable  action  on  the  part  of 
the  executive  of  the  latter." 

This  was  sufficiently  explicit  for  President  Jones,  but  Mr. 
Allen,  under  his  direction,  went  on  to  say  in  substance  that  the 
annexation  sentiment  of  Texas,  weakened  by  the  rejection,  of 
the  late  treaty  by  the  United  States  Senate,  may  have  changed 
into  a  general  or  insurmountable  opposition  to  the  measure. 

This  was  well  enough  said  at  the  time,  as  the  friends  of  an- 
nexation had  undoubtedly  weakened  in  their  support  of  the 
measure. 

The  seat  of  government  trouble  inherited  from  Houston,  con- 
tinued to  annoy  Jones.  A  bill  to  remove  the  archives  back  to 
Austin  passed  both  houses  after  considerable  discussion  and 
wrangling.  It  was  checkmated  by  an  executive  veto;  not  for 
Houston's  reason,  however,  that  Washington  was  the  constitu- 
tional seat  of  government,  but  on  the  ground  of  an  existing 
emergency.  But  these  reasons  not  being  satisfactory  to  the  pub- 
lic, executive  vetoes  did  not  quiet  the  matter.  On  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  President,  Congress  made  a  law  providing  for 
the  settlement  of  this  vexed  question  by  a  popular  vote  in  the 
3'ear  1847,  and  the  sum  of  $5000  was  appropriated  to  effect 
th$  return  of  the  archives  to  Austin  in  the  meantime,  where  they 
would  remain  till  the  seat  of  government  was  determined  at 
the  ballot  box. 

This  law  dropped  out  of  view,  and  was  not  enforced  on  a)c- 
count  of  the  all-absorbing  question  of  annexation. 

On  the  last  day  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Donelson  laid  before  the 
Texan  government  the  annexation  resolutions  passed  by  the 
United  States  Congress  just  before  the  end  of  President  Tyler's 
term  of  office,  with  these  remarks :  "If  Texas  now  accepts  these 
proposals,  from  that  moment  she  becomes  virtually  a  State  of 
the  Union,  because  the  faith  of  the  United  States  will  be 
pledged  for  her  admission,  and  the  act  of  Congress  necessary  to 
redeem  the  pledge  is  obliged  to  follow  as  soon  as  she  presents  a 
republican  form  of  government.  All  then  that  is  necessary  upon 
this  basis  is  for  this  government,  after  expressing  its  assent  to 
the  proposals  submitted  to  it,  to  call  a  convention  of  the  people 
to  clothe  their  deputies  with  the  power  necessary  to  amend  their 
Constitution  and  adapt  the  government  created  by  it  to  the  new 


160  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


circumstances  under  which  it  will  be  placed  by  annexation  to 
the  Union.  .  .  .  This  great  question,  then,  is  in  the  hands 
of  Texas.  .  .  . 

"With  these  observations,  the  question  is  now  submitted  to 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Allen,  under  the  confident  hope  that  this  govern- 
ment will  see  the  necessity  of  prompt  and  decisive  action  where- 
by the  measure  may  obtain  the  constitutional  sanction  of 
Texas." 

President  Jones  was,  under  the  advice  of  Mr.  Donelson,  about 
to  test  the  annexation  feeling  of  Texas  under  sections  1  and  2  of 
the  resolution  as  it  passed  the  United  States  Congress.  Under 
them,  the  "terms  were  dictated  and  the  conditions  absolute;" 
and  Texas  could  say  only  "Yes"  or  "No."  The  third  section, 
an  amendment  to  the  original  resolutions,  empowered  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  to  arrange  terms  with  Texas. 

General  Houston,  preferring  action  under  the  third  section 
of  the  resolutions,  wrote  under  date  of  April  9,  1845,  to  Mr. 
Donelson : 

"Now,  my  dear  friend,  for  the  sake  of  human  liberty, — for 
the  sake  of  the  future  tranquillity  of  the  United  States,  and  for 
the  prosperity  of  Texas,  whose  interests,  prosperity,  and  happi- 
ness are  near  to  my  heart  and  cherished  by  me  above  every  po- 
litical consideration, — I  conjure  you  to  use  your  influence  in 
having  presented  to  this  government  the  alternative  suggested 
by  the  amendment  to  Mr.  Brown's  bill,  so  that  commissioners 
can  act  in  conjunction  upon  the  points  which  it  may  be  proper 
to  arrange  between  the  two  countries  before  is  it  too  late,  and 
while  there  is  a  remedy,  .  .  .  that  Texas  may  exercise  some 
choice  as  to  the  conditions  of  her  entry  into  the  Union.  .  .  . 

"I  would  suggest  that  Texas,  if  admitted  into  the  Union, 
should  enjoy  full  equality  and  community  with  the  other  States 
of  the  confederacy;  that  the  United  States  should  receive  and 
pay  Texas  a  liberal  price  for  the  public  property  which  has  been 
acquired  for  national  purposes. 

"That  Texas  should  retain  her  public  lands,  and  if  the  United 
States  shall  hen  'after  vary  her  boundary  or  limits  as  at  present 
defined  by  contracting  or  reducing  them,  that  in  that  case  they 
should  indemnify  the  citizens  of  Texas  by  payment  for  any 
lands  which  they  may  hold  by  locations  under  the  laws  of  Texas 


LUB BOOTS  MEMOIRS.  161 


in  the  territory  abandoned  by  the  United  States,  at  the  mini- 
mum price  of  the  government  lands  at  this  time  in  the  United 
States. 

"That  the  government  of  the  United  States  may  at  any  time 
purchase  the  vacant  lands  of  Texas  at  a  price  to  be  stipulated  by 
the  commissioners;  and  in  the  event  of  their  purchasing  our 
lands,  that  they  should  not  (without  the  consent  of  the  State 
of  Texas)  sell  to  or  permit  to  settle  within  the  present  limits  of 
Texas  any  nation,  people,  or  tribe  of  Indians. 

"That  Texas  should  pay  the  national  debt. 

"That  the  United  States  should  remunerate  the  citizens  of 
Texas  whose  lands  fell  within  the  United  States  in  running  the 
boundary  lines,  in  the  same  manner  and  with  the  same  liberality 
that  Texas  did  those  of  the  United  States,  or  that  they  (the- 
United  States)  pay  them  for  their  lands  which  had  been  located 
on  valid  titles,  issued  by  the  government  of  Mexico,  and  at  a 
time  when  it  was  believed  the  limits  of  Texas  would  embrace  the 
locations  previous  to  running  the  line. 

"And  I  would  recommend  that  an  article  be  inserted  in  the 
agreement,  stipulating  expressly  that  Texas  should  not  form  a 
part  of  the  Union  until  her  Constitution  is  accepted  by  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States.  .  .  . 

"I  have  not  even  glanced  at  the  general  policy  of  the  measure 
of  annexation,  but  have  given  my  views  as  to  the  mode  of  its 
execution  and  what  appears  to  me  necessary  to  be  done  by  the 
parties.  I  must  confess  that  I  am  not  free  from  embarrassment 
on  the  subject.  I  have  felt  so  deeply  for  my  venerated  and 
highly  valued  friend,  the  Sage  of  the  Hermitage,  that  nothing 
but  a  most  sacred  regard  for  my  adopted  country  could  have  in- 
duced me  again  to  thus  express  my  opinions  on  this  subject.  The 
feelings  of  General  Jackson  are  so  much  absorbed  in  the  subject 
of  annexation,  arising  from  his  views  of  the  importance  of  the 
measure  to  the  United  States,  that  he  has  very  naturally  not 
been  fully  able  to  regard  Texas  as  forming  a  separate  commu- 
nity, and  with  interests  not  entirely  identical  with  those  of  that 
government.  Nevertheless,  I  know  and  feel  that  General  Jack- 
son believes  that  Texas,  annexed  on  any  terms,  would  be  equally 
benefited  with  the  United  States,  and  thereby  perpetuate  free 

institutions  and  extend  the  sphere  of  representative  government. 
11 


162  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Annexation  would  be  certainly  beneficial  to  the  United  States. 
On  the  part  of  Texas,  it  is  an  experiment,  which,  I  pray  God,  if 
it  takes  place,  may  result  in  enduring  happiness  and  prosperity 
to  a  united  community." 

It  is  needless  to  say,  perhaps,  that  these  statesmanlike  views 
as  to  the  proper  policy  of  Texas  on  the  matter  of  annexation 
were  not  heeded  by  the  Jones  administration,  and  that  annexa- 
tion was  finally  consummated  as  advised  by  Mr.  Donelson  un- 
der the  instructions  of  the  President  of  the  United  States.  In- 
deed, it  is  not  certain  that,  in  view  of  all  the  embarrassing  cir- 
cumstances, Houston's  prudent  policy  was  practicable  at  the 
time. 

President  Jones  was  being  suspected  of  want  of  fidelity  to  the 
cause  of  annexation.  I  thought  proper  to  address  him  as  fol- 
lows: 

"HOUSTON,  April  9,  1845. 
"To  His  Excellency  Anson  Jones: 

"My  Dear  Sir :  Claiming  to  be  a  friend  of  yours,  not  of  yes- 
terday, but  since  the  year  1836,  I  take  the  liberty  of  stating  to 
you  that  from  my  observation,  which  has  been  very  considerable 
of  late,  I  find  that  a  very,  very  large  majority  of  your  friends 
and  the  people  of  our  county  are  in  favor  of  annexation  as  pro- 
posed by  the  United  States;  that  many  of  your  former  friends 
and  opponents  are  now  abusing  you  for  delaying  the  important 
question  and  asserting  openly  that  you  are  opposed  and  doing  all 
in  your  power  to  defeat  it.  These  assertions  T  have  denied,  it  is 
true  without  authority,  but  from  my  own  conviction  that  you 
were  in  favor  of  the  measure.  I  trust,  my  dear  sir,  that  you 
will  see  it  as  I  do,  and  a  large  majority  of  your  fellow  citizens 
and  friends,  and  that  you  will  lend  your  influence  and  aid  in 
bringing  about  a  measure  that  will  redound  to  the  prosperity 
of  your  country  and  entitle  you  to  the  merit  and  praise  of  hav- 
ing consummated  one  of  the  greatest  political  achievements  on 
record,  and  instead  of  receiving  the  thanks  of  150,000  people, 
that  of  18,000,000. 

"You  may  think  me  crazy  in  thus  boldly  approaching  you  on 
so  important  a  measure;  but,  rny  dear  sir,  I  claim  to  be  your 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  163 


friend  and  well  wisher,  consequently  trust  you  will  give  my  let- 
ter such  consideration  as  a  friend  deserves.  I  am,  yours  re- 
spectfully, F.  K.  LUBBOCK." 

Indorsed  by  Jones  thus :  "This  letter  is  from  a  true  and 
worthy  friend  who  believes  correctly.  But  it  shows  a  strange 
phenomenon  in  politics.  I  have  now  been  laboring  incessantly 
more  than  four  years  to  open  the  doors  of  annexation,  and  have 
at  last  succeeded  while  others  slept.  Now  noisy  demagogues 
make  the  public  believe  they  are  the  friends  of  the  measure,  God 
save  the  mark !  and  I  (its  chief  author)  its  opposer  and  enemy. 
— A.  J."  (Jones'  Memoirs  and  Official  Correspondence,  pp. 
445-6.) 

As  further  evidence  of  the  excitement  about  annexation,  these 
extracts  are  given  from  a  letter  of  April  9,  1845,  to  President 
Jones  by  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith,  just  leaving  Galveston  as  Minister 
to  England  and  France: 

"I  find  everywhere  very  great,  very  intense,  feeling  on  this 
subject.  I  quieted  it  as  much  as  possible  by  stating  that  you 
would  at  no  very  distant  period  present  this  matter  for  the  con- 
sideration and  action  of  the  people.  I  am  forced  to  believe  that 
an  immense  majority  of  the  citizens  are  in  favor  of  annexation, 
— that  is,  of  annexation  as  presented  in  the  resolution  of  the 
American  Congress, — and  that  they  will  continue  to  be  so  in 
preference  to  independence,  though  recognized  in  the  most  lib- 
eral manner  by  Mexico."  He  goes  on  to  say  that  should  the 
people  lose  confidence  in  his  favorable  disposition  towards  an- 
nexation, they  would  assemble  "a  convention  by  calling  on  the 
people  in  public  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  overriding  the  gov- 
ernment— in  other  words,  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  plunge  the 
country  into  a  revolution.  The  plan  has  been  matured  in  Har- 
ris, Brazoria,  and  Galveston  counties." 

Dr.  Smith  was  seen  in  company  with  Messrs.  Elliott  and  De 
Saligny,  British  and  French  Ministers  respectively,  and  this 
aroused  suspicion  that  Texas  was  about  to  be  turned  over  to  some 
European  power. 

Continuing,  the  letter  says :  "When  it  is  known  that  I  am  go- 
ing to  Europe  ...  I  feel  convinced  that  public  opinion 


164  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


will  be  inflamed  beyond  control.  I  have  understated  rather  than 
overstated  the  feeling  on  this  subject.  .  .  .  /  am  sure  its 
tendency  will  be  to  prevent  the  dispassionate  consideration  by 
the  people  of  the  grave  matters  about  to  be  submitted  to  them ; 
and  I  am  really  apprehensive  that  an  attempt  may  be  made  to 
subvert  our  institutions." 

On  March  29,  1845,  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith,  Secretary  of  State, 

negotiated  with  Charles  Elliott,  charge  for  Great  Britain,  and 

-  De  Saligny,  charge  for  France,  a  protocol  for  this  treaty 

with  Mexico  acknowledging  the  independence  of  Texas.     Its 

four  essential  points  were: 

First — Mexico  agrees  to  acknowledge  the  independence  of 
Texas. 

Second — Texas  agrees  that  she  will  stipulate  in  the  treaty  not 
to  annex  herself  or  become  subject  to  any  country  whatever. 

Third — Limits  and  other  conditions  to  be  matter  of  arrange- 
ment in  the  final  treaty. 

Fourth — Texas  will  be  willing  to  remit  disputed  points  re- 
specting territory  and  other  matters  to  the  arbitration  of  um- 
pires. 

The  treaty  with  its  entire  conditions  was  promptly  ratified  by 
the  Mexican  Congress. 

Texas  was  to  act  later.  The  choice  then  before  the  people  was, 
"independence  and  peace  with  Mexico,  or  annexation  to  the 
United  States,  with  chances  of  continued  war  with  Mexico." 

England  and  France  stood  in  the  character  of  interveners,  and 
proposed  to  guaranty  the  observance  of  the  treaty,  if  duly  rati- 
fied by  both  parties.  We  chose,  and  I  think  wisely,  as  Americans 
to  go  back  to  our  father's  house  with  an  empire  redeemed  from 
barbarism  rather  than  be  controlled  by  European  governments 
under  the  appearance  of  an  independent  existence. 

In  public  estimation  Washington  on  the  Brazos  did  not  re- 
spond with  sufficient  promptness  to  the  overtures  of  Washing- 
ton on  the  Potomac ;  that  is  to  say,  annexation  did  not  move  up 
fast  enough  in  Texas.  And  while  President  Jones  and  Mr. 
Donelson  were  wrestling  with  this  great  measure  in  a  diplomatic 
way,  annexation  meetings  were  held  throughout  the  Republic  to 
express  the  popular  will  on  the  subject. 

The  annexation  meeting  at  Houston  was  held  in  the  Presby- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  165 


terian  church,  April  21,  1845,  the  ninth  anniversary  of  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto.  Hon.  M.  P.  Norton  was  chairman,  and  George 
Bringhurst  and  A.  M.  Gentry  were  the  secretaries. 

The  question  of  annexation  was  left  open  to  discussion  by  both 
the  friends  and  opponents  of  the  measure. 

The  committee  on  resolutions  was  composed  of  the  following 
gentlemen :  J.  W.  Henderson,  Francis  Moore,  Jr.,  W.  Mc- 
Craven,  J.  Bailey,  A.  Wynns,  I.  W.  Brashear,  T.  B.  J.  Hadley, 
T.  M  .Bagby,  Wm.  M.  Rice,  C.  McAnally,  M.  T.  Rodgers,  M.  K. 
Snell,  H.  Baldwin,  S.  S.  Tompkins,  John  H.  Brown,  and  my- 
self. 

Among  other  things,  we  resolved :  "That  we  willingly  assent 
to  the  joint  resolution  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United 
States  adopted  by  the  American  Congress  and  selected  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States  as  the  basis  upon  which  this  great 
measure  is  to  be  consummated;  and  in  signifying  our  willing- 
ness to  enter  the  American  Union,  we  would  also  testify  our  full 
confidence  in  the  honor  and  justice  of  the  American  people.  We 
believe  they  will  ultimately  extend  to  us  every  privilege  that 
freemen  can  grant  without  dishonor  and  freemen  accept  with- 
out disgrace." 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  courthouse  at  7 
p.  m. 

The  night  meeting  was  addressed  by  quite  a  number  of  speak- 
ers, Colonel  Megginson,  Col.  A.  S.  Thruston,  and  Judge  Thomp- 
son opposing  the  resolutions,  and  Timothy  Pilsbury,  W.  B. 
Ochiltree,  and  F.  R.  Lubbock  advocating  them. 

The  Morning  Star  had  this  to  say :  "Mr.  Henderson  confined 
his  arguments  mainly  to  the  cost  of  the  State  government  as 
compared  to  the  present  government.  His  remarks  were  very 
appropriate,  and  he  closed  amid  the  warm  plaudits  of  his  hear- 
ers. The  speech  of  S.  S.  Tompkins  was  remarkably  eloquent  and 
was  received  with  great  applause.  The  speech  of  Mr.  Lubbock 
was  also  highly  commended  by  the  audience.  The  opponents  of 
the  measure,  although  eloquent  and  able,  appeared  to  great  dis- 
advantage. The  cause  they  advocated,  although  elevated  by  their 
talents,  seemed  to  degrade  them  below  their  true  rank  as  ora- 
tors." 

There  was  a  rousing  annexation  meeting  held  at  Shelbyville, 


166  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  Messrs.  0.  M.  Roberts,  Isaac  Van  Zandt,  David  S.  Kauf- 
man, and  J.  Pinckney  Henderson  all  made  elaborate  and  strong 
speeches  in  advocacy  of  annexation.  The  committee  on  resolu- 
tions had  on  it  such  men  as  David  S.  Kaufman,  M.  T.  Johnson, 
and  Emory  Raines.  The  court  in  session  at  Shelbyville  had 
called  together  this  array  of  distinguished  men,  who  hastened  to 
put  themselves  on  record  for  annexation. 

Among  the  resolutions  presented  by  Mr.  Kaufman  and  unani- 
mously adopted  were  these: 

"That  we  have  the  utmost  confidence  in  the  President  of 
Texas,  Anson  Jones,  as  evinced  by  our  independent  suffrages; 
and  we  will  not  believe  for  a  moment  that  he  would  attempt  to 
blast  or  defer  the  hopes  of  a  confiding  people  or  the  realization 
of  their  long  wished  for  anticipations;  and  that  one  national 
government  is  enough  to  protect  all  Americans,  whether  native 
or  naturalized." 

Copies  of  the  resolutions  were  ordered  sent  to  Andrew  Jack- 
son, the  benefactor  of  the  human  race,  to  ex-President  John 
Tyler,  to  Gen.  Sam  Houston,  to  Presidents  Polk  and  Jones,  and 
to  all  friendly  newspapers  for  publication. 

Hon.  Ebenezer  Allen,  Acting  Secretary  of  State,  suspected  of 
opposing  annexation  and  called  on  for  his  real  views  at  the  Bren- 
ham  meeting,  in  April,  declared  himself  unequivocally  in  favor 
of  the  measure. 

Collin  McKinney  presided  over  the  Bowie  County  annexation 
meeting,  and  Dr.  John  S.  Peters  acted  as  the  secretary.  General 
Rusk  explained  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  when  the  annexa- 
tion resolutions  were  presented,  supported  them  by  a  powerful 
and  convincing  speech.  They  were  adopted  nem.  con.  Among 
the  prominent  men  on  the  committee  on  resolutions  were  Gen. 
E.  H.  Tarrant,  Wm.  C.  Young,  Esq.,  Judge  James  N.  Smith, 
William  S.  Todd,  Esq.,  C.  R.  Johns,  and  S.  H.  Morgan. 

Sabine  County  appeared  solid  for  annexation.  In  their  meet- 
ing on  March  31st,  Rev.  Littleton  Fowler  acted  as  chairman, 
and  according  to  the  Morning  Star  "addressed  the  meeting  most 
eloquently  in  favor  of  the  resolutions,"  as  also  did  W.  C.  Duf- 
field,  Hon.  David  S.  Kaufman,  Col.  B.  Burke,  and  Judge  Go- 
lightly.  There  was  no  opposition. 

On  April  14,  1845,  came  off  the  Brazoria  annexation  meeting, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  167 


in  which  James  W.  Copes,  John  Adriance,  James  Burke,  and 
Guy  M.  Bryan  acted  as  secretaries,  and  Timothy  Pilsbury  as 
chairman.  On  invitation  Hon.  Tod  Robinson  addressed  the  meet- 
ing, eloquently  advocating  annexation.  On  motion  of  James  F. 
Perry  the  following  were  appointed  a  committee  on  resolu- 
tions: Henry  Smith,  W.  T.  Austin,  John  G.  McNeil,  John  B. 
Norris,  W.  B.  Aldridge,  R.  M.  Forbes,  M.  L.  Smith,  C.  R.  Pat- 
ton,  J.  C.  Wilson,  L.  H.  McNeil,  W.  J.  Kyle,  P.  W.  Gautier,  R. 
Mills,  Thos.  Blackwell,  R.  J.  Calder,  W.  J.  Russell,  J.  H.  Polly, 
Abner  Jackson,  Peter  McGreal,  E.  Purcell,  J.  W.  Brooks,  R.  J. 
Townes,  W.  M.  Brown,  King  Holstein,  W.  D.  C.  Hall,  Joel 
Spencer,  Joel  Bryan,  and  W.  W.  Williams.  Besides  this,  there 
was  a  committee  of  correspondence,  headed  by  E.  M.  Pease  and 
R.  J.  Townes,  and  another  committee  of  a  dozen  or  more  to  pre- 
pare an  "Address  to  the  People.''  The  resolutions  may  be  char- 
acterized as  redhot  for  annexation,  with  or  without  the  consent 
of  the  Jones  administration. 

Guy  M.  Bryan  carried  a  copy  of  the  proceedings  to  Col.  James 
Love  at  Galveston,  and  the  meeting  there  a,  few  days  later 
strongly  indorsed  annexation. 

In  the  annexation  meeting  at  Columbus  Williamson  Daniels, 
Esq.,  was  called  to  the  chair,  and  George  W.  Gardner  was  ap- 
pointed secretary.  They  adopted  vigorous  annexation  resolu- 
tions, which  were  presented  by  E.  W.  Perry,  George  W.  Brown, 
William  Mennifee,  Asa  Townsend,  W.  B.  Lewis,  and  others. 

The  meeting  at  old  Nacogdoches  was  a  strong  one.  On  motion 
of  James  H.  Durst,  Judge  William  Hart  was  called  to  the  chair 
and  Adolphus  Sterne  appointed  secretary.  The  committee  on 
resolutions  were  T.  J.  Jennings,  C.  S.  Taylor,  Haden  Edwards, 
James  Gaines,  Bennet  Blake,  David  Muckleroy,  J.  H.  Durst, 
and  others.  Able  speeches  in  behalf  of  the  annexation  resolu- 
tions were  made  by  Colonel  Jennings,  Judge  Taylor,  Judge 
Wingfield,  Major  Gaines,  and  Col.  Haden  Edwards.  There  were 
but  three  votes  against  annexation. 

The  Harrison  County  meeting  was  held  at  Marshall.  On  mo- 
tion of  Hon.  William  T.  Scott,  Charles  H.  Cooper  was  called  to 
the  chair  and  Ed.  Clark  and  M.  J.  Hall  appointed  secretaries. 
Hon.  Isaac  Van  Zandt  presented  the  resolutions,  the  first  of 
which  read  thus :  "Be  it  resolved,  That  the  reannexation  of 


168  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Texas  to  the  United  States  upon  the  basis  proposed  in  the  joint 
resolutions  of  the  United  States  Congress  meets  our  hearty  ap- 
probation.'' Speeches  were  made  by  William  C.  Hill,  Isaac  Van 
Zandt,  Colonel  Bland,  and  S.  R.  Campbell  favoring  annexation, 
and  by  Col.  A.  B.  Means  and  George  Lane  in  opposition  thereto. 
Annexation  carried  overwhelmingly. 

The  Fort  Bend  meeting  had  more  than  usual  significance, 
from  the  participation  in  it  of  so  many  of  the  "Old  Pilgrims"  of 
Austin's  colony.  James  B.  Miller  was  the  chairman  and  M.  M. 
Battle  the  secretary.  B.  C.  Campbell  explained  the  object  of  the 
meeting,  and  he,  with  F.  M.  Gibson  and  Dr.  J.  H.  Barnard,  pre- 
sented the  resolutions.  They  resolved  "That,  like  the  prodigal 
who  had  sojourned  long  in  foreign  lands,  we  will  return  with 
pleasure  to  'our  father's  house/  "  and  then  went  on  to  advocate 
the  acceptance  of  the  annexation  resolution  of  the  United  States 
Congress. 

The  Bastrop  meeting  declared  unanimously  for  annexation. 
The  principal  participants  were  Col.  J.  W.  Dancy,  Senator  Cald- 
well,  Gen.  Ed.  Burleson  (chairman),  John  W.  Bunton,  and 
others. 

The  Montgomery  meeting  was  addressed  in  able  speeches  for 
annexation  by  C.  B.  Stewart,  N.  H.  Davis,  and  John  M.  Lewis. 

The  leading  men  favoring  annexation  in  the  Jefferson  County 
meeting  were  F.  W.  Ogden,  J.  W.  Baldridge,  Alex.  Golden,  Wm. 
F.  Herring,  and  Isaiah  Junker.  , 

And  so  the  prominent  men  nearly  everywhere  declared  for 
annexation. 

One  anti-annexation  meeting  was  held  at  Houston.  The  State 
Senator  of  the  district,  William  Lawrence,  a  strong  anti,  was 
to  deliver  the  address.  He  had,  however,  steamed  up  too  high 
for  the  occasion,  and  though  an  admirable  speaker,  upon  taking 
the  platform  he  gazed  vacantly  at  the  crowd,  and  in  a  moment 
more  measured  his  full  length  upon  the  floor.  Dr.  Francis 
Moore,  the  chairman,  who  was  an  ardent  annexationist  and  a 
very  ready  man,  pointed  with  his  one  arm  to  the  prostrate  man, 
and  said  most  emphatically,  in  a  loud  tone:  "Gentlemen,  Colonel 
Lawrence  has  the  floor."  This  settled  the  question,  and  the  gath- 
ering, with  much  merriment,  left  the  hall. 

Soon  all  opposition  to  the  American  sentiment  died  out.   Poli- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  169 


ticians  could  no  longer  delay  the  mighty  popular  movement  to 
get  back  into  our  father's  house. 

In  May,  1845,  closely  following  the  terms  of  the  annexation 
resolution  as  expounded  by  Mr.  Donelson,  President  Jones,  to 
get  the  consent  of  the  existing  government,  called  an  extraor- 
dinary session  of  Congress  to  meet  at  the  capital  on  the  16th  of 
June. 

In  his  message  to  the  Congress  assembled,  the  President  said : 
"The  executive  has  now  the  pleasure  to  transmit  to  the  honor- 
able Congress  for  such  action  as  they  may  deem  suitable  the 
propositions  which  have  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States  government  for  the  annexation  of  Texas  and  its  incor- 
poration as  a  State  into  that  great  and  kindred  confederacy, 
together  with  the  correspondence  between  the  two  governments 
which  has  arisen  out  of  the  same.  .  .  .  The  executive  has 
much  satisfaction  in  observing  what  no  doubt  will  forcibly  ar- 
rest the  attention  of  the  Congress,  that  although  the  terms  em- 
braced in  the  resolutions  of  the  United  States  Congress  may  at 
first  have  appeared  less  favorable  than  was  desirable  for  Texas, 
that  the  very  liberal  and  magnanimous  views  entertained  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States  towards  Texas,  and  the  promises 
made  through  the  representative  of  that  country  in  regard  to  the 
future  advantages  to  be  extended  to  her,  if  she  consents  to  the 
proposed  union,  render  those  terms  much  more  acceptable  than 
they  would  otherwise  have  been." 

The  state  of  public  opinion  and  the  great  anxiety  of  the  peo- 
ple to  act  definitely  upon  the  subject  of  annexation  by  a  conven- 
tion of  delegates  induced  the  executive  to  issue  his  proclamation 
on  the  5th  of  May,  ultimo,  recommending  an  election  through- 
out the  Eepublic,  and  for  the  convention12  to  meet  at  the  city  of 
Austin  on  the  4th  of  July  next. 

"The  executive  has  the  pleasure,  in  addition  to  presenting  to 
Congress  the  propositions  concerning  annexation,  to  inform 
them  that  certain  conditions  preliminary  to  a  treaty  of  peace, 
upon  the  basis  of  a  recognition  of  the  independence  of  Texas  by 

18  Captain  Elliott,  the  British  charge",  well  knew  the  temper  of  the 
Texans  as  to  annexation;  and  after  being  informed  of  the  calling  of  the 
Convention,  he  is  reported  to  have  said,  "The  hunt  is  up.  I  will  now 
retire  and  await  orders  from  her  majesty's  government." 


170  LUBBOCK^S  MEMOIRS. 


Mexico,  were  signed  on  the  part  of  the  latter  at  the  City  of 
Mexico  on  the  19th  of  May  last,  and  were  transmitted  to  thi& 
government  on  the  3d  instant  by  the  Baron  Alley  de  Cyprey, 
minister  plenipotentiary  of  his  majesty  the  king  of  the  French, 
at  that  court,  by  the  hands  of  Captain  Elliott,  H.  B.  M.'s  charge 
d'affaires  near  this  government.  .  .  .  These  preliminaries 
being  in  the  nature  of  a  treaty,  will,  with  all  the  correspond- 
ence in  relation  thereto,  be  forthwith  communicated  to  the  hon- 
orable Senate  for  its  constitutional  advice  and  such  action  as  in 
its  wisdom  the  same  shall  seem  to  require. 

"The  alternative  of  annexation  or  independence  will  thus  be 
placed  before  the  people  of  Texas,  and  their  free,  sovereign,  and 
unbiased  voice  will  determine  the  all-important  issue,  and  so  far 
as  it  shall  depend  upon  the  executive  to  act,  he  will  give  imme- 
diate and  full  effect  to  the  expression  of  their  will." 

The  President  could  not  well  close  without  saying  some  things 
creditable  to  his  administration,  thus :  "Texas  is  at  peace  with 
the  world.  .  .  .  The  receipts  into  the  treasury  have  been 
sufficient  to  meet  the  various  expenditures  of  the  government. 
A  specie  currency  has  been  maintained  without  difficulty,  and 
nearly  all  the  exchequer  bills  which  were  in  circulation  at  the 
period  of  your  late  adjournment  have  been  redeemed  and  with- 
drawn from  circulation,  and  the  executive  is  happy  to  con- 
gratulate the  country  upon  a  state  of  peace,  happiness,  and  pros- 
perity never  before  experienced  in  Texas,  and  rarely  if  ever 
equaled  by  so  young  a  nation." 

Congress  promptly  gave  the  consent  of  the  existing  govern- 
ment to  annexation,  and  adjourned  on  the  28th  of  June. 

The  only  sectional  strife  in  Texas  was  between  the  east  and 
the  west.  The  east  had  the  wealth  and  the  population,  and  con- 
sequently, the  bulk  of  the  taxes  to  pay ;  while  the  west  was  com- 
paratively thinly  settled  and  periodically  plundered  by  the  Mexi- 
cans and  Indians.  On  the  other  hand,  the  basis  of  representa- 
tion was  unequal,  giving  the  west  an  undue  share  of  political 
power. 

President  Jones,  writing  to  Hamilton  Stuart,  November  25, 
1847,  said :  "The  question  of  a  basis  of  representation  carried 
with  it  the  question  of  the  seat  of  government,  a  question  which 
at  one  time  came  very  near  dissolving  the  government  itself. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  171 


The  east,  north,  and  middle  were  willing  to  let  Austin  remain 
the  seat  of  government  if  the  apportionment  of  representation 
could  be  made  equal.  ...  I  determined  upon  calling  the 
convention  myself.  I  fixed  an  equitable  basis  of  representation. 
.  .  .  A  few  days  after  the  adjournment  of  Congress  the  con- 
vention met  at  Austin,  confirmed  that  place  as  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment of  the  State;  and  the  Constitution  which  they  framed 
perpetuated  the  basis  of  representation  which  I  established." 

The  convention  met  at  Austin  as  called,  on  the  4th  of  July, 
the  natal  day  of  American  independence.  Its  object  was  to  de- 
termine the  preference  of  Texas,  whether  for  independence  and 
peace  with  Mexico  or  for  annexation  to  the  United  States.  But 
the  people  had  already  spoken,  and  the  convention  only  had  to 
register  their  will. 

On  motion  of  Hiram  G.  Runnels,  Thomas  J.  Rusk  was  nomi- 
nated for  president  of  the  convention  and  unanimously  elected. 
W.  F.  Weeks  acted  as  the  reporter  of  the  proceedings. 

This  body  made  a  notable  gathering  of  the  worthies  of  Texas. 
Sam  Houston  was  conspicuous  by  his  absence.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate-elect from  Montgomery,  but  absent  on  a  visit  to  General 
Jackson.  C.  B.  Stewart  was  allowed  to  take  his  seat. 

Of  the  delegates  there  then  famous,  or  who  became  so  after- 
wards, I  call  to  mind  Hiram  G.  Runnels  and  Robert  M.  Forbes, 
of  Brazoria ;  John  Caldwell,  of  Bastrop ;  Jose  Antonio  Navarro, 
the  Mexican  statesman  from  Bexar;  Lemuel  Dale  Evans,  of 
Fannin ;  J.  B.  Miller,  of  Fort  Bend ;  R.  E.  B.  Baylor  and  James 
S.  Mayfield,  of  Fayette ;  Richard  Bache  and  James  Love,  of  Gal- 
veston ;  W.  L.  Hunter,  of  Goliad ;  Francis  Moore,  Jr.,  J.  W.  Bra- 
shear,  and  A.  McGowan,  of  Harris;  Isaac  Van  Zandt  and  Ed. 
Clark,  of  Harrison ;  F.  M.  White,  of  Jackson ;  George  T.  Wood, 
of  Liberty;  A.  C.  Horton,  of  Matagorda;  Thomas  J.  Rusk  and 
Joseph  L.  Hogg,  of  Nacogdoches ;  W.  C.  Young,  of  Red  River; 
J.  Pinckney  Henderson  and  N".  H.  Darnell,  of  San  Augustine ; 
Emory  Raines,  of  Shelby;  William  Cazneau,  of  Travis,  and 
Abner  S.  Lipscomb  and  John  Hemphill,  of  Washington. 

The  president-elect  being  conducted  to  the  chair,  addressed 
the  convention,  saying  among  other  things:  "The  object  for 
which  we  have  assembled  deeply  interests  the  people  of  Texas. 
We  have  the  hopes  of  our  present  population,  as  well  as  the 


172  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


millions  who  may  come  after  us,  in  our  hands ;  the  eyes  of  the 
civilized  world  are  upon  us;  we  present  this  day  a  bright  spec- 
tacle to  all  lovers  of  freedom  and  republican  government.  The 
history  of  the  world  may  be  searched  in  vain  for  a  parallel  to  the 
present  instance  of  two  governments  amalgamating  themselves 
into  one  from  a  pure  devotion  to  that  great  principle  that  man, 
by  enlightening  his  intellect  and  cultivating  those  moral  senti- 
ments with  which  his  God  has  impressed  him,  is  capable  of  self- 
government. 

"The  terms  of  annexation  are  alike  honorable  to  the  United 
States  and  to  Texas,  and  as  a  Texian,  acting  for  myself  and  my 
posterity,  I  would  not,  were  it  practicable,  without  in  the  slight- 
est degree  endangering  the  great  question  involved,  seek  to  alter 
the  terms  proposed  to  us  by  the  government  of  the  United  States. 
Texas,  animated  by  the  same  spirit  and  following  the  bright 
example  of  the  fathers  of  the  American  revolution,  has  acquired 
at  the  cost  of  blood  her  freedom  and  independence  from  those 
who  would  have  enslaved  her  people.  She  now,  with  a  unanim- 
ity unparalleled,  enters  that  great  confederacy  to  whose  keep- 
ing the  bright  jewel  of  human  liberty  is  confided,  content  to  bear 
the  burdens  and  share  the  benefits  which  republican  government 
carries  in  her  train.  Our  duties,  although  important,  are  plain 
and  easy  of  performance.  The  formation  of  a  State  Constitu- 
tion upon  republican  principles  is  the  only  act  to  be  performed 
to  incorporate  us  into  the  American  Union.  While  we  insert 
those  great  principles  which  have  been  sanctioned  by  time  and 
experience,  we  should  be  careful  to  avoid  the  introduction  of 
new  and  untried  theories.  We  should  leave  those  who  follow  us 
free  to  adopt  such  amendments  to  the  system  as  their  experience 
and  intelligence  shall  suggest  and  their  circumstances  render 
necessary." 

Mr.  James  H.  Raymond  was  elected  secretary  of  the  conven- 
tion over  Joseph  Waples. 

The  president  informed  the  convention  that  he  had  a  com- 
munication from  the  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  It 
comprised  the  various  official  documents  on  annexation,  the 
reading  of  which  was  dispensed  with  except  the  joint  resolution 
of  annexation. 

The  president  appointed  a  committee  of  fifteen  to  report  on  an 


LUB BOOTS  MEMOIRS.  173 


ordinance  expressing  the  assent  of  the  convention  to  the  annexa- 
tion resolution.  The  names  of  the  committee  were  as  follows: 
Lipscomb,  Moore,  Caldwell,  Evarts,  Love,  Van  Zandt,  Hender- 
son, Cazneau,  Evans,  Kunnels,  Hemphill,  Lewis,  Baylor,  Davis, 
and  Smyth. 

The  committee  reported  the  same  day.  (See  report  in  Ap- 
pendix.) After  the  preamble  and  joint  resolution  of  the  United 
States  Congress  came  the  assent  in  these  words :  "Now,  in  order 
to  manifest  the  assent  of  the  people  of  this  Kepublic  as  required 
in  the  above  recited  portions  of  said  resolution,  we,  the  deputies 
of  the  people  of  Texas,  in  convention  assembled,  in  their  name 
and  by  their  authority,  do  ordain  and  declare,  that  we  assent  to 
and  accept  the  proposal,  conditions,  and  guarantees  contained  in 
the  first  and  second  sections  of  the  resolution  of  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  aforesaid." 

There  were  55  votes  cast  for  the  ordinance  and  1  against  it, 
cast  by  Richard  Bache,  grandson  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  E.  H. 
Tarrant,  Volney  E.  Howard,  W.  B.  Ochiltree,  Oliver  Jones,  B. 
C.  Bagby,  and  Charles  B.  Stewart  did  not  vote  on  the  question. 
Therefore  it  may  be  said  that  the  ratification  vote  of  the  con- 
vention lacked  seven  of  being  unanimous. 

President  Rusk  at  once  sent  a  certified  copy  of  the  ordinance 
passed  to  the  United  States  charge,  Mr.  Donelson,  who,  in 
acknowledgment,  said:  "This  ordinance  shall  be  immediately 
forwarded  by  a  special  messenger  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  who  will  receive  it  with  the  gratification  its  dignity  and 
importance  are  so  well  calculated  to  produce  in  every  patriotic 
heart.  Texas  has  manifested  to  the  world  with  a  unanimity 
unparalleled,  in  the  disposition  of  a  debated  political  question, 
her  preference  of  an  association  with  the  republican  States  com- 
posing the  Federal  Union,  over  all  the  advantages,  real  or  imag- 
inary, that  were  held  out  to  her  as  a  separate  nation. 

"With  a  discrimination  quickened  by  her  contact  with  foreign 
influences,  she  has  learned  in  her  battlefields  and  in  her  civil 
experience  the  necessity  of  union  among  the  votaries  of  freedom ; 
and  in  voluntarily  agreeing  to  take  her  place  hereafter  as  a 
sovereign  member  of  the  American  confederacy,  she  has  paid  a 
tribute  to  the  cause  of  popular  government  which  will  command 
the  admiration  of  the  world. 


174  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"From  the  date  of  this  ordinance  Texas  will  have  acquired 
a  right  to  the  protection  of  the  United  States,  and  the  under- 
signed is  happy  to  inform  you  that  the  President  of  the  United 
States  has  taken  steps  to  afford  this  protection  in  the  most 
effective  manner  against  future  Mexican  and  Indian  invasion." 

Next  was  a  resolution  favoring  the  introduction  of  United 
States  troops  into  Texas  in  accordance  with  a  previous  under- 
standing between  Mr.  Donelson  and  Secretary  of  State  Allen. 

The  dissatisfaction  with  the  existing  government,  so  preva- 
lent at  the  time,  showed  itself  in  the  convention.  And  there 
was  under  serious  consideration  a  proposition  to  abolish  the 
Jones  government  and  to  set  up  a  provisional  one  in  its  stead; 
and  it  was  thought  at  one  time  that  the  dissatisfied,  including 
such  men  as  Eusk,  Hogg,  and  Horton,  were  in  the  majority. 

But  prudent  counsels  prevailed  and  the  storm  blew  over.13 

In  concluding  this  subject,  I  think  it  no  more  than  right  to 
let  President  Jones  speak  for  himself,  thus :  "I  won  independ- 
ence and  annexation  for  my  country.  If  I  am  wrong  in  any  par- 
ticular, let  the  records  of  my  negotiation  show  it.  They  all  may 
be  published  without  any  fear  that  Texas  will  be  injured  by  it. 

.  .  I  have  never  sought  to  be  popular  by  making  a  stalk- 
ing horse  of  annexation  and  riding  on  it  into  popular  favor.  I 
was  contented  to  be  denounced  by  my  enemies  and  even  sus- 
pected by  my  friends  as  opposed  to  it,  when  the  interests  of  the 
country  and  the  position  Texas  occupied  towards  the  United 

18  In  the  letter  already  referred  to,  President  Jones  said  further  to 
Hamilton  Stuart: 

"  Not  long  after  the  opening  of  the  Convention  I  received  information 
from  the  most  reliable  and  authentic  sources  that  emissaries  and  fac- 
tionists  were  at  work,  and  that  a  majority  of  from  two  to  five  in  the 
Convention  were  in  favor  of  abolishing  the  existing  government  and  es- 
tablishing a  provisional  one  in  its  place.  *  *  *  I  hastened  with 
some  of  my  cabinet  to  Austin.  The  friends  of  good  order  and  annexa- 
tion prevailed;  for,  two  weeks  after,  the  proposition  to  abolish  the  gov- 
ernment coming  before  the  Convention  in  a  report  from  the  Committee 
on  the  State  of  the  Nation,  it  was  triumphantly  defeated,  only  about 
seven  members  voting  for  it  out  of  sixty-one  who  composed  that  body. 
Faction  was  thus  rebuked,  disorganizes  and  emissaries  silenced,  and 
annexation  again  saved  to  the  country.  From  this  time,  I  had  no  fur- 
ther material  control  over  the  question  of  annexation,  and  my  duties  in 
connection  with  it  became  merely  ministerial." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  175 


States,  England,  France,  and  Mexico  required  a  discreet  silence 
on  my  part;  but  if  ever  annexation  should  go  out  of  favor  in 
Texas  (which  I  hope  may  never  be  the  case),  my  enemies  I  fear 
will  then  be  able  to  prove  that,  but  for  me,  it  never  would  have 
taken  place,  and  that  I  was  always  its  devoted  friend.  All  I 
claim  for  myself  is  having  accomplished,  in  spite  of  every  diffi- 
culty and  every  obstacle,  the  great  object  I  sought,  and  un- 
influenced by  clamor,  abuse,  or  threats,  of  having  pursued  one 
uniform  and  consistent  course  on  the  subject  of  annexation  from 
1836  to  1846,  that  is,  from  the  birth  to  the  death  of  the  Re- 
public." 

Nevertheless,  President  Jones  was  ruined  politically  by  the 
suspicion  that  he  had  opp6sed  annexation;  and  he  did  not  live 
long  enough  to  recover  his  former  high  position  in  the  public 
confidence. 

Anson  Jones,  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1798,  came  to  Texas 
in  1833  as  a  practicing  physician,  and  soon  went  into  active 
politics.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest  advocates  for  Texan  inde- 
pendence, and  when  the  war  begun  became  surgeon  in  Burleson's 
regiment  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  Sub- 
sequently Jones  was  a  Congressman  from  Brazoria,  and  later 
Minister  to  the  United  States,  Secretary  of  State  under  Hous- 
ton, and  finally  President.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  abilities,  and 
for  many  years  was  on  intimate  terms  with  Sam  Houston. 

In  response  to  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  by  the  convention 
for  his  promptness,  fidelity  and  impartiality,  President  Rusk 
gracefully  acknowledged  the  compliment  and  proceeded  to  say 
further :  "The  important  duties  we  were  called  upon  to  perform 
on  the  part  of  the  people  of  Texas  are  discharged,  and  I  trust  in 
a  manner  which  will  be  satisfactory  to  all  the  people  of  Texas, 
satisfactory  to  the  Congress  and  people  of  the  United  States, 
and  satisfactory  to  the  friends  of  republican  government 
throughout  all  the  civilized  world.  .  .  .  The  proceedings  of 
this  convention,  I  think  I  may  safely  say  without  vanity  or  un- 
due prejudice  in  favor  of  Texas,  our  adopted  land,  may  well 
compare  with  those  of  any  similar  body  which  has  met  within 
the  last  hundred  years.  They  have  been  marked  by  a  degree  of 
decorum  and  a  spirit  of  good  feeling  which  I  trust  in  God  will 
continue  to  characterize  the  people  of  Texas  as  long  as  our  coun- 


176  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


try  shall  endure.  ...  I  trust,  too,  that  when  this  Constitu- 
tion shall  go  into  operation  the  angry  passions  attendant  upon 
political  dissensions  will  be  hushed,  that  all  sectional  feeling  and 
jealousies  and  the  strife  of  personal  ambition  will  cease,  and  that 
for  many  long  years  to  come  it  will  continue  the  organic  law  of 
a  people  united  as  a  band  of  brothers,  animated  by  the  best  feel- 
ings of  the  human  heart,  and  prompted  in  action  by  that  pure 
and  lively  patriotism  which  has  characterized  Texas  thus  far/* 

Time  has  shown  to  be  true  these  congratulatory  remarks  of 
President  Rusk  to  the  convention.  This  Constitution  of  1845, 
the  best  that  Texas  ever  had,  perhaps,  perished  only  by  external 
violence. 

Judge  Hemphill,  arguing  from  the  analogy  of  North  Carolina 
and  Rhode  Island,  held  that  a  new  Constitution  was  not  neces- 
sary to  entitle  Texas  to  admission  in  the  Union.  Those  two  pow- 
ers having  played  the  role  of  independent  sovereignties  a  year  or 
more,  came  into  the  Union  by  "acceding  to  the  compact,"  North 
Carolina  without  any  change  in  her  organic  law,  and  Rhode 
Island  with  her  old  royal  charter  for  a  Constitution.  In  case  of 
any  conflict  the  United  States  Constitution  was  of  course  para- 
mount. In  that  distinguished  jurist's  opinion,  Texas  might 
have  entered  the  Union  by  simply  ratifying  the  annexation  reso- 
lution of  the  United  States  Congress. 

At  the  election  held  in  October  the  Constitution  submitted  to 
the  people  was  adopted  by  a  vote  practically  unanimous. 

An  election  was  ordered  for  State  officers  and  members  of  the 
Legislature,  to  be  holden  on  the  third  Monday  in  December. 

J.  Pinckney  Henderson  was  elected  Governor  over  Dr.  J.  P. 
Miller  by  a  vote  of  7853  to  1673.  Albert  C.  Horton  beat  Nicho- 
las H.  Darnell  for  Lieutenant-Governor  by  only  120  votes. 

Mr.  Darnell  had  already  the  honor  of  being  the  bearer  of  the 
new  Constitution  of  Texas  from  the  annexation  convention  to 
President  Polk. 

On  December  29,  1845,  President  Polk  signed  the  joint  reso- 
lution for  the  admission  into  the  Union.  Ex-President  Adams 
worked  hard  to  the  very  last  moment  to  beat  annexation  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  Daniel  Webster  opposed  it  in  the 
Senate. 

The  new  Legislature  met  at  Austin  on  February  16,  1846. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  177 


The  old  capitol,  which  had  been  used  only  for  a  church  and 
schoolhouse  since  February,  1842  (except  for  the  short  session 
of  the  annexation  convention),  was  now  occupied  again  as  a 
legislative  hall.  According  to  Col.  John  S.  Ford,  in  his  paper, 
the  Austin  Democrat,  the  capitol  was  decorated  with  flags  for 
this  occasion.  President  Jones  and  Governor-elect  Henderson 
made  their  appearance,  attended  by  a  joint  committee  of  both 
houses,  and  escorted  by  the  United  States  officers  of  this  station. 
After  they  were  introduced  and  seated,  Judge  R.  E.  B.  Baylor 
led  off  in  an  earnest  prayer. 

President  Jones  then  rose  and  delivered  his  valedictory,  con- 
cluding in  these  words : 

"The  Lone  Star  of  Texas,  which  ten  years  ago  arose  amid 
clouds  over  fields  of  carnage,  obscurely  seen  for  awhile,  has 
culminated,  and  following  an  inscrutable  destiny,  has  passed  on 
and  become  fixed  forever  in  that  glorious  constellation  which  all 
freemen  and  lovers  of  freedom  in  the  world  must  reverence  and 
adore — the  American  Union.  Blending  its  rays  with  its  sister 
States,  long  may  it  continue  to  shine,  and  may  generous  heaven 
smile  upon  the  consummation  of  the  wishes  of  the  two  republics 
now  joined  in  one.  May  the  union  be  perpetual,  and  may  it  be 
the  means  of  conferring  benefits  and  blessings  upon  the  people 
of  all  the  States,  is  my  ardent  prayer.  The  final  act  in  the  great 
drama  is  now  performed.  The  Republic  of  Texas  is  no  more !" 

During  this  address  intense  emotion  thrilled  every  bosom  and 
tears  trickled  from  the  eyes  of  many  weather-beaten  Texans,  who 
felt  that  they  were  being  stricken  from  the  roll  of  nations,  and 
that  indeed  the  Republic  of  Texas  was  "no  more."  Continuing, 
Colonel  Ford  says:  "Texas  is  secure  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
that  a  patriot  could  wish — her  destiny  is  united  to  that  of  the 
mightiest  people  on  earth.  Her  watchword  must  be  'Union'  and 
her  progress  will  be  'Onward.'  '' 

On  this  event  the  Washington  Union  of  that  date  thus  com- 
ments :  "We  again  hail  the  incorporation  of  Texas  into  our 
Union  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  events  of  the  age.  It  was 
accomplished  by  no  violence  of  the  sword ;  no  effusion  of  blood ; 
no  corruption  of  the  people,  and  by  no  constraint  upon  their 
intentions ;  but  in  the  best  spirit  of  the  age,  according  to  the 
present  principles  of  free  government,  by  the  free  consent  of  the 
12 


178  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


people  of  the  two  republics.  Well  may  President  Jones  have 
said:  'It  was  left  for  the  Anglo-American  inhabitants  of  the 
western  continent  to  furnish  a  new  mode  of  enlarging  the 
bounds  of  empire  by  the  more  natural  tendency  and  operation  of 
the  principles  of  their  free  government.' '' 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  179 


CHAPTER  TEN. 

Texas  in  the  Union — Henderson  Governor — The  Mexican  War — Texans 
at  Monterey — General  Henderson  and  His  Brigade — Ben  McCulloch 
and  Buena  Vista  —  Hays  and  Walker  with  Scott  —  Peace  and  Terri- 
torial Expansion  —  Democratic  Party  Organization  —  The  Glorious 
Fourth  at  Austin  in  1S46  —  Educational  Interests  in  Houston  —  Hen- 
derson's Welcome  Home  —  His  Character. 

Governor  Henderson's  inaugural  was  a  short  and  pointed  ad- 
dress congratulating  the  people  upon  the  consummation  of  an- 
nexation, expressing  a  desire  for  a  spirit  of  harmony  and  forbear- 
ance, rather  regretting  the  power  and  patronage  lodged  by  law 
with  the  executive,  but  promising  to  act  cautiously  and  im- 
partially in  his  official  duties  and  only  for  the  public  good,  pledg- 
ing himself  to  place  the  judiciary  on  the  best  possible  footing, 
and  expecting  to  use  the  veto  power  sparingly.  He  closed  with 
this  vigorous  paragraph :  "We  have  this  day  fully  entered  the 
Union  of  the  North  American  States.  Let  us  give  our  friends, 
who  so  boldly  and  nobly  advocated  our  cause,  and  the  friends  of 
American  liberty,  no  reason  to  regret  their  efforts  in  our  be- 
half. Henceforth  the  prosperity  of  our  sister  States  will  be  our 
prosperity — their  happiness,  our  happiness — their  quarrels  will 
be  our  quarrels,  and  in  their  wars  we  will  freely  participate." 

A  few  days  later  Thomas  J.  Rusk  and  Sam  Houston  were 
chosen  by  the  Legislature  United  States  Senators,  the  former  re- 
ceiving on  joint  ballot  70  votes,  and  the  latter  69.  Col.  James 
Love  received  4  votes  for  Senator,  Hiram  G.  Runnels  2  votes,  and 
James  B.  Miller  and  Memucan  Hunt  received  1  vote  each. 

In  the  congressional  election  that  spring  David  S.  Kaufman 
was  chosen  for  Representative  in  the  eastern  district. 

Timothy  Pilsbury  was  elected  in  the  western  district,  though 
he  had  such  able  competitors  as  Wm.  G.  Cooke,  Sam  M.  Williams, 
R.  E.  B.  Baylor,  and  Thos.  Jefferson  Green. 

Kaufman  was  a  Pennsylvania!!,  having  come  to  Texas  in  1837. 
He  had  represented  his  district  in  the  Congress  of  the  Republic 
and  had  served  as  a  diplomat  for  Texas  at  Washington  City. 
Pilsbury  was  a  retired  sea  captain  from  Maine,  and  had  been  a 


180  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Congressman  in  the  days  of  the  Republic.  Both  men  were  pa- 
triots of  sterling  worth,  and  their  fidelity  to  Texas  had  been  tried 
and  never  found  wanting. 

For  his  Secretary  of  State,  Governor  Henderson  selected  ex- 
President  David  G.  Burnet,  and  Gen.  Ed.  Burleson  was  president 
pro  tern,  of  the  Senate.  Jas.  B.  Shaw  was  Comptroller ;  Thomas 
William  Ward,  Land  Commissioner;  Wm.  G.  Cooke,  Adjutant- 
General.  It  was  gratifying  to  note  the  prominence  of  these  old 
Texaus  in  the  new  State  government. 

The  Governor  in  his  message  called  attention  to  the  public 
debt  and  the  necessity  of  paying  it ;  to  the  proper  disposition  of 
the  public  domain;  to  the  unorganized  condition  of  our  militia; 
and  to  the  necessity  of  economy  in  administration,  to  which  he 
was  pledged  as  the  chief  executive  officer  of  the  State. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Governor  Hen- 
derson appointed  John  Hemphill  Chief  Justice,  and  Abner  S. 
Lipscomb  and  Eoyall  T.  Wheeler  Associate  Justices.  Hemphill 
was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  unanimously.  Six  votes  were  cast 
against  Wheeler's  confirmation  and  five  against  Lipscomb's. 
This  court,  in  the  ability  and  purity  of  its  members,  has  never 
had  a  superior  in  Texas.  The  little  opposition  to  Lipscomb  and 
Wheeler  at  first  was  caused,  it  was  said,  from  their  connection 
with  certain  old  land  claims. 

We  had  scarcely  got  into  the  Union  before  there  were  rum- 
blings of  war  on  the  Mexican  border.  The  Spanish  stock  is  slow 
to  recognize  the  logic  of  events.  Spain  did  not  recognize  the 
independence  of  Mexico  till  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  After 
nine  years  of  conflict  Mexico  offered  to  recognize  the  independ- 
ence of  Texas  if  Texas  would  agree  to  remain  a  separate  nation. 
But  that  would  have  barred  annexation,  and  we  rejected,  as  has 
been  already  shown,  the  Mexican  proposal  with  scorn.  Mexico 
now  made  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  a  casus 
belli  under  the  pretense  that  Texas  was  her  rebellious  province. 
Almonte,  the  Mexican  minister  at  Washington  City,  protested 
in  severe  terms  against  the  annexation  of  Texas,  and  withdrew 
from  the  United  States.  Mexico,  having  rejected  President 
Polk's  offer  of  peaceful  negotiation,  began  active  preparations 
for  war. 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  181 


Meanwhile  Texas  accepted  the  annexation  resolution  of  the 
United  States  Congress,  and  when  General  Taylor,  at  New  Or- 
leans, was  advised  of  this  by  Mr.  Donelson,  he  immediately  em- 
barked with  a  few  battalions  for  our  exposed  southwestern  fron- 
tier. 

Encouraged,  if  not  incited,  by  the  abolitionists  of  the  free 
States,  the  Mexican  government  rejected  our  peace  minister.  Mr. 
Slidell,  and  ordered  its  armies  into  Texas. 

In  the  spring  of  1846,  General  Taylor,  to  meet  this  threatened 
invasion,  advanced  on  Matamoros.  General  Arista  protested, 
and  informed  General  Taylor  that  he  must  at  once  retire  with 
his  army  beyond  the  Nueces,  or  expect  to  be  compelled  to  do  so 
by  force.  Taylor  sternly  refused,  but  proposed  to  Arista,  as  a 
peace  measure,  an  armistice  pending  possible  negotiations  be- 
tween the  two  governments.  Arista  refused  this  reasonable  prop- 
osition, and,  crossing  the  Eio  Grande  into  Texas  with  his  army 
of  more  than  6000  veterans,  began  hostilities. 

In  May,  Taylor,  with  about  3000  men,  mostly  volunteers, 
routed  the  Mexicans  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Eesaca  de  la 
Palma,  and  drove  them  back  across  the  Eio  Grande  badly  de- 
moralized and  reduced  to  about  half  their  original  number. 

Capt.  Samuel  Walker,  with  his  handful  of  Texas  Eangers, 
rendered  excellent  scouting  service  for  General  Taylor  in  this 
short  but  glorious  campaign. 

President  Polk,  by  proclamation,  recognized  the  existence  of 
war  and  called  for  volunteers.  American  blood  had  been  shed 
by  foreigners  upon  American  soil,  and  there  was  an  enthusiastic 
response  throughout  the  Union  to  the  call  for  troops,  but  espe- 
cially in  the  West  and  South. 

On  account  of  the  known  superiority  of  the  United  States  to 
Mexico,  making  victory  sure,  I  did  not  feel  the  necessity  of  en- 
listing in  the  war,  nor  did  my  warlike  brother  Tom,  who  had 
rushed  to  the  defense  of  Texas  eleven  years  before  when  hard 
pressed  by  Mexico.  All  of  us,  however,  held  ourselves  in  readi- 
ness to  march  to  the  front  should  the  struggle  be  long  or  doubt- 
ful. The  war  was  really  welcomed  by  Texas,  as  it  gave  the  op- 
portunity for  her  adventurous  sons  to  make  the  hated  Mexicans 
feel  the  blighting  effects  of  a  contest  carried  to  their  altars  and 
firesides. 


182  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


There  was  an  immediate  rush  of  Texan  volunteers  to  the  Rio 
Grande  frontier,  and  they  shared  in  the  glories  of  that  campaign. 
Their  distinguished  leaders  were  the  ranger  captains  Jack 
(John  C.)  Hays,  Samuel  H.  Walker,  and  Ben  McCulloch.  Col. 
Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  the  first  to  lead  a  regiment  (the 
Second)  to  the  Rio  Grande.  They  were  six  months  men,  and 
were  from  some  misunderstanding  mustered  out  of  service  be- 
fore participating  in  a  battle. 

It  was  said  at  the  time  that  major-generals'  commissions  were 
offered  by  President  Polk  to  Senators  Houston  and  Rusk,  but 
declined  by  those  gentlemen.  Governor  Henderson  accepted  a 
commission  as  major-general  in  the  volunteer  army,  and,  when 
authorized  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  went  to  the  front  and  com- 
manded the  Texans  under  General  Taylor  at  Monterey.  His 
brigade  consisted  of  the  regiments  of  Cols.  Geo.  T.  Wood  and 
Jack  Hays.  They  led  the  American  advance  on  Monterey,  with 
the  companies  of  Capts.  McCulloch  and  R.  A.  Gillespie  in  front. 

General  Henderson,  with  his  Texans,  fought  with  such  spirit 
in  the  successful  assault  on  Monterey,  September  22-24,  1846, 
as  to  gain  the  plaudits  of  the  whole  army.  In  fact,  the  siege 
seemed  to  drag  until  the  Texans  resorted  to  Ben  Milam's  tactics 
at  Bexar  (fighting  from  house  to  house),  and  forced  a  surrender. 

General  Henderson  was  highly  complimented  by  General  Tay- 
lor, and  was  voted  a  sword  by  Congress  in  commemoration  of  his 
gallantry.  Our  Governor  was  also  appointed  on  the  commission, 
with  Col.  Jeff  Davis  and  General  Worth,  to  arrange  the  terms 
for  surrender  of  the  city. 

Among  the  noted  Texans  at  Monterey  were  M.  B.  Lamar,  Ed. 
Burleson,  H.  L.  Kinney,  and  Ed.  Clark  (on  General  Henderson's 
staff)  ;  McCulloch,  Tom  Green,  Walter  P.  Lane,  P.  H.  Bell,  Geo. 
T.  Wood,  Jack  Hays,  Sam  Walker,  and  Wm.  R.  Scurry,  the  first 
three  (beginning  with  McCulloch)  soldier  boys  at  San  Jacinto, 
and  the  next  two,  future  Governors  of  Texas,  and  all  more  or  less 
distinguished. 

Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  there  as  inspector-general  on  Gen- 
eral Butler's  staff. 

There  was  no  Texas  regiment  at  Buena  Vista,  but  Captain 
McCulloch,  with  his  rangers,  made  a  daring  reconnoissance  of 
the  Mexican  position  and  brought  to  General  Taylor  reliable  in- 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  183 


formation  of  Santa  Anna's  rapid  advance.  Taylor  had  barely 
time  to  throw  his  little  army  of  5000  men  into  the  defile  of  An- 
gostura. This  almost  impregnable  position  alone  saved  the 
American  army  from  destruction  by  Santa  Anna's  overwhelming 
force  of  17,000  men. 

Hays  and  Walker  raised  another  regiment  at  San  Antonio  the 
following  winter  and  fought  with  Scott's  army  to  the  City  of 
Mexico,  winning  many  laurels  for  their  gallantry.  About  the 
close  of  the  war  Walker  was  killed  at  Huamantla.  Walter  P. 
Lane  also  distinguished  himself  fighting  under  Taylor. 

The  whole  Texan  force  sent  to  Mexico  was  said  to  be  about 
8000  men;  but,  as  our  records  in  the  Adjutant-General's  office 
have  been  burned,  the  exact  number  is  not  known.  General 
Mansfield,  in  his  history  of  the  war,  puts  the  Texan  soldiers  in 
the  Mexican  war  at  about  6600  men. 

In  making  peace  in  1848,  the  question  arose  as  to  the  policy 
of  taking  more  territory,  by  way  of  indemnity  for  losses,  and  of 
thus  enlarging  our  area.  It  was  the  old  question  of  expansion, 
argued  as  to  Louisiana,  Florida,  and  Texas,  and  in  those  in- 
stances decided  in  favor  of  the  principle.  The  decision  in  this 
instance,  as  in  those  which  preceded  it,  was  for  the  acquisition  of 
additional  domain,  and  it  was  given  practical  effect  in  the  formal 
stipulations  of  the  treaty  of  Guadaloupe  Hidalgo.  So  Upper 
California  and  New  Mexico  were  taken  in  and  put  under  the 
Stars  and  Stripes.  Pending  the  annexation  of  Texas,  Senator 
Levy  of  Florida  introduced  a  resolution  in  the  United  States 
Senate  advising  the  President  to  negotiate  with  Spain  for  the 
cession  of  Cuba. 

The  expansion  idea  is  not  yet  dead  in  the  United  States, 
though  men  now  think  it  should  die. 

The  advantages  of  the  Union  to  Texas  began  at  once  to  appear 
in  the  simplicity,  economy,  and  efficiency  of  the  State  govern- 
ment. Domestic  concerns,  such  as  the  business  of  the  Land 
Office  and  the  administration  of  justice,  received  the  proper  at- 
tention, as  we  had  no  longer  the  exclusive  duty  of  defending  our 
frontiers  against  foreign  invasion.  It  devolved  upon  the  Fed- 
eral government,  also,  to  prevent  Indian  incursions  upon  our 
western  settlements.  In  default  of  Federal  protection,  later  on, 
the  Texans  protected  themselves  through  the  State  rangers,  and 


184  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


were  reimbursed  by  round  sums  of  money  drawn  from  the  Fed- 
eral treasury. 

By  the  terms  of  annexation  Texas  ceded  to  the  United  States 
her  public  edifices,  navy,  ports,  arms,  and  armaments.  In  this 
delicate  matter  I  understand  Lieut.  W.  A.  Tennison,  of  our  navy, 
was  agent  for  Texas,  and  that  Hiram  G.  Runnels  represented 
the  United  States.  Among  other  arms  transferred  were  the 
"Twin  Sisters,"  the  two  cannon  used  at  San  Jacinto.  Our  ships 
being  transferred,  it  was  thought  at  the  time  that  our  naval 
officers  would  go  with  the  ships  and  with  them  be  incorporated 
in  the  United  States  navy.  Senator  Houston  opposed  that  view, 
and  the  measure  was  never  consummated. 

The  First  Legislature  did  some  important  work  in  the  organ- 
ization of  the  courts  and  of  the  militia,  in  the  establishment  of 
the  penitentiary,  and  in  the  creation  of  more  than  thirty  new 
counties.  Provision  was  made  for  a  system  of  direct  taxation, 
and  for  taking  the  census.  Religious  meetings  were  put  under 
protection  of  the  law.  The  viva  voce  method  of  voting  was 
adopted ;  but,  proving  unpopular,  it  was  soon  changed  to  the 
secret  ballot  system.  Under  the  State  government  our  execu- 
tive's salary  was  then  only  $2000  per  annum,  and  our  legislators' 
per  diem  was  but  $3. 

Wishing  to  act  in  harmony  with  the  great  Democratic  party 
of  the  United  States,  the  Democratic  members  of  the  First  Leg- 
islature, together  with  leading  Democrats  from  different  por- 
tions of  the  State,  called  a  meeting  in  the  capitol  on  the  night  of 
April  27,  1846.  Its  object  was  to  appoint  a  central  Democratic 
committee,  and  thus  to  effect  complete  organization  for  the  party 
throughout  the  State. 

Wiliam  L.  Cazneau  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  John  T. 
Mills,  of  Red  River,  was  appointed  chairman,  and  E.  M.  Pease 
secretary. 

Dr.  John  G.  Chalmers,  of  Travis,  addressed  the  meeting  on 
the  necessity  of  party  organization,  as  also  did  Messrs.  Gillett, 
of  Lamar;  Gooch,  of  Red  River,  and  Durham,  of  Bowie. 

The  committee  on  resolutions:  Dr.  John  G.  Chalmers,  of 
Travis;  T.  J.  Chambers,  of  Liberty ;  R.  M.  Williamson,  of  Wash- 
ington ;  Hiram  G.  Runnels,  of  Brazoria ;  Wm.  H.  Bourland,  of 
Lamar;  Volney  E.  Howard,  of  Bexar;  H.  J.  Jewett,  of  Robert- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  185 


son;  J.  A.  Greer,  of  San  Augustine;  John  Brown,  of  Nacog- 
doches;  Lem  D.  Evans,  of  Red  River,  and  C.  F.  McClarty,  of 
Rusk,  reported,  in  substance:  Adherence  to  the  principles  of 
the  Democratic  party  in  the  United  States,  and  that  meetings  be 
held  in  the  several  counties  to  elect  delegates  to  assemble  in  con- 
vention on  the  first  Monday  in  November,  at  Washington,  to 
adopt  the  necessary  measures  to  carry  out  the  principles  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

J.  S.  Mayfield  and  R.  M.  Williamson  supported  the  resolutions 
by  forcible  arguments. 

The  central  committee  was  composed  as  follows :  Hiram  G. 
Runnels,  R.  M.  Williamson,  Wm.  H.  Bourland,  Daniel  C.  Dick- 
son,  Dr.  John  S.  Ford,  Dr.  Moses  Johnson,  Jas.  Webb,  John  W. 
Haines,  Dr.  John  G.  Chalmers,  T.  J.  Chambers,  and  Thos.  H. 
Duval.  It  was,  by  resolution,  made  their  duty  to  prepare  an  ad- 
dress to  the  people  of  Texas.1* 

All  newspapers  were  requested  to  publish  the  proceedings. 
This  was  the  first  Democratic  convention  ever  held  in  Texas  to 
effect  party  organization.  The  Mexican  war  coming  on,  with 
other  engrossing  matters,  the  subject  slept  until  awakened  to 
activity  again  by  avowed  opposition  to  Democratic  principles. 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1846,  had  a  fitting  celebration  in  Austin 
— the  first  one  under  the  Federal  government.  The  celebration 
was  both  religious  and  political — all  at  the  old  wooden  capitol. 
The  Methodists  appeared  to  lead  in  the  religious  ceremony,  as 

14  The  corresponding  secretaries  were:  Wm.  E.  Cross,  of  Austin; 
E.  Millican,  of  Brazos;  Dr.  E.  Mabry,  of  Bastrop;  L.  H.  Magee,  of 
Brazoria;  A.  J.  Russell,  of  Bowie;  Volney  E.  Howard,  of  Bexar;  Geo. 
W.  Brown,  of  Colorado;  G.  A.  Everts,  of  Fannin;  Wm.  S.  Rayner,  of 
Fort  Bend;  Jno.  H.  Moore,  of  Fayette;Wm.  S.  Hunter,  of  Goliad;  Jno. 
D.  Anderson,  of  Gonzales;  Hugh  M.  McLeod,  of  Galveston;  Edward 
Clark,  of  Harrison;  Isaac  Parker,  of  Houston;  Peter  W.Gray,  of  Harris; 
Cavit  Armstrong,  of  Jefferson;  G.  W.  Smyth,  of  Jasper;  F.  M.  White, 
of  Jackson;  Geo.  T.  Wood,  of  Liberty;  Henderson  Yoakum,  of  Mont- 
gomery; Geo.  B.  Erath,  of  Milam;  Jas.  Benson,  of  Matagorda;  R.  R. 
Gage,  of  Nacogdoches;  Jas.  Smith,  of  Rusk;  S.  H.  Morgan,  of  Red 
River;  Henry  J.  Jewitt,  of  Robertson;  M.  T.  Johnson,  of  Shelby;  T.  G. 

Brooks,  of  San  Augustine;  J.  M.  Burroughs,  of  Sabine; Talley,  of 

San  Patricio:  W.  L.  Cazneau,  of  Travis;  Jno.  W.  Rose,  of  Victoria,  and 
James  Miller,  of  Washington. 


186  •     LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


their  presiding  elder, Yell,  addressed  the  meeting,  and  Dr. 

H.  M.  Thrall  closed  it  with  prayer.  The  politicians  then  took 
charge  of  it,  and  Jas.  H.  Raymond  read  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, and  Judge  A.  S.  Lipscomb  made  a  patriotic  speech 
which  was  loudly  applauded  by  the  crowd.  Captain  Highsmith, 
with  his  rangers,  paraded  through  the  city  and  fired  occasional 
salutes.  At  4  p.  m.  a  signal  gun  announced  that  the  barbecue, 
prepared  under  the  direction  of  Brown  and  Chandler,  was  ready. 

The  dinner  was  spread  in  a  beautiful  liveoak  grove,  a  few 
hundred  yards  west  of  the  capitol.  A  large  crowd  participated, 
including  Lieutenant-Governor  Horton,  Judge  Lipscomb,  and 
other  distinguished  officials.  The  sumptuous  dinner  dispatched, 
the  inevitable  toasts  were  offered  by  the  toastmaster,  Dr.  S.  G. 
Haynie,  and  mostly  drank  in  Colorado  water.  With  the  regular 
toasts  were  these:  "The  day  we  celebrate;"  "the  Republic  of 
Texas,  now  no  more — promising  in  birth,  prosperous  in  life,  and 
triumphant  in  death"  [three  cheers]  ;  "the  State  of  Texas — last, 
though  not  least,  in  the  glorious  Union,  she  was  the  first  in  the 
field  and  will  be  the  last  to  leave  it"  [three  times  three]  ; 
"Thomas  Jefferson — the  founder  of  true  Democracy;"  "The 
heroes  of  the  American  revolution;"  "The  heroes  of  the  Texian 
revolution."  Lieutenant-Governor  Horton  offered  as  a  volunteer 
toast :  "The  memory  of  Gen.  Stephen  F.  Austin,  the  founder  of 
Texas — may  his  memory  be  co-extensive  with  the  institutions  of 
our  country ;"  Owen  O'Brien :  "Our  distinguished  representation 
in  the  American  Congress;"  Jas.  M.  Long  (major)  :  "Texas  as 
she  was,  Texas  as  she  is,  Texas  forever ;"  Judge  Lee :  "The  anni- 
versary of  American  liberty — may  it  soon  be  celebrated  in  every 
town  and  hamlet  on  the  American  continent." 

Good  feeling  and  order  prevailed  throughout  the  day,  and  the 
festivities  closed  at  night  with  a  grand  cotillion  party  at  the 
capitol. 

In  October,  1846,  there  was  a  meeting  in  Houston  of  "The 
Texas  Literary  Institute,"  of  which  Rev.  Chauncey  Richardson 
was  president,  Isaac  Henderson  and  Ashbel  Smith  vice-presi- 
dents, and  John  Sayles  and  Harvey  H.  Allen  secretaries.  After 
going  through  with  the  program  of  exercises,  they  appointed  a 
committee  of  five  to  receive  plans  for  a  system  of  public  instruc- 
tion in  Texas,  to  embrace  the  following  subjects :  The  establish- 


LUBBOCJCS  MEMOIRS.  187 


ment  of  one  or  more  universities;  the  establishment  of  one  or 
more  colleges ;  the  establishment  of  academies,  male  and  female ; 
the  establishment  of  common  or  district  schools;  the  preparation 
of  instructors ;  the  best  methods  to  get  a  uniform  system  of  in- 
struction; the  investment  of  the  school  fund.  Revs.  Orceneth 
Fisher  and  Chas.  Gillett  were  prominent  workers  in  the  insti- 
tute, and  all  showed  a  creditable  interest  in  promoting  a  good 
educational  system  for  Texas — such  as  was  contemplated  by  the 
old  pioneers. 

The  educational  idea  was  never  lost  sight  of  in  Texas,  even 
amid  our  severest  trials. 

After  the  capture  of  Monterey,  General  Henderson,  in  feeble 
health,  resigned  his  military  commission  and  returned  to  his 
executive  duties  in  Texas,  which  had  meanwhile  devolved  upon 
Lieutenant-Governor  Horton. 

On  his  arrival  in  Austin  General  Henderson  received  a  royal 
welcome.  Thos.  Wm.  Ward  was  president  of  the  reception  com- 
mittee, and  S.  G.  Haynie,  R.  M.  Potter,  and  J.  M.  Swisher  were 
vice-presidents.  A  public  dinner  was  served  in  honor  of  the  dis- 
tinguished guest.  Men  of  all  shades  of  political  opinion  par- 
ticipated. Everything  went  off  harmoniously.  Toasts  were 
offered,  as  usual,  with  appropriate  "airs."  Among  the  regular 
toasts  were:  "The  President  of  the  United  States" — air,  "Hail 
Columbia;"  "The  Subjugation  of  Monterey — may  those  who 
achieved  it  reap  the  reward  of  their  valor" — air,  "Yankee 
Doodle ;"  "The  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States — the  army 
has  drawn  the  sword  with  cause;  it  will  not  sheath  it  without 
honor;  the  navy,  it  bides  its  time;"  "The  Volunteers  of  the 
United  States — true  to  the  plow  in  time  of  peace,  and  ever  ready 
to  take  the  sword  in  time  of  war ;"  "The  Volunteers  of  Texas — 
let  those  who  died  at  Monterey  be  remembered  with  the  martyrs 
of  the  Alamo ;  let  those  who  survive  be  enrolled  with  the  victors 
of  Bexar  and  San  Jacinto ;  the  subjugation  of  the  former  gave  us 
confidence,  the  triumph  of  the  latter  established  our  independ- 
ence;" "Gen.  J.  Pinckney  Henderson,  our  distinguished  guest — 
the  victorious  chief,  warm  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,  not 
only  for  his  prowess  in  the  field,  but  for  his  distinguished  talents 
as  a  statesman." 


188  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


General  Henderson  made  an  appropriate  response,  reviewing 
his  course  as  commander  of  the  Texans  at  Monterey,  and  assert- 
ing that  he  opposed  the  liberal  terms  allowed  to  Ampudia,  and 
that  he  signed  the  articles  of  capitulation  only  as  the  agent  of 
General  Taylor.  He  closed  with  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  good 
conduct  and  bravery  of  the  Texan  volunteers.  The  general's  de- 
bility, regretted  by  all,  prevented  his  saying  more,  and  he  took 
his  seat  amidst  loud  cheering. 

The  regular  toasts  having  been  exhausted,  the  following, 
among  other  volunteer  toasts,  were  offered :  S.  G.  Haynie :  "The 
Memory  of  Brenham,  Ogden,  Cameron,  and  all  the  decimated  of 
the  Mier  expedition — may  Santa  Anna,  who  gave  the  fatal  and 
bloody  order,  and  the  officers  and  men  who  executed  it,  live  to 
draw  a  'black  bean'  from  a  Texas  rifle;"  K.  M.  Potter:  "The 
Ladies  of  Mexico,  against  whom  I  bear  no  malice,  whatever  I 
might  say  of  the  men;  to  them  the  distress  of  the  Texian  pris- 
oners never  appealed  in  vain,  and,  so  far  as  they  are  concerned, 
I  am  a  Christian  and  love  my  enemies;"  David  G.  Burnet: 
"General  Taylor  and  his  army — the  pioneers  to  the  political  and 
moral  enlightenment  of  Mexico;"  Thos.  W.  Ward:  "To  the 
memory  of  Stephen  F.  Austin;"  A.  C.  Horton:  "Gov.  J.  P. 
Henderson — we  hail  with  pleasure  his  safe  return  among  us  from 
a  glorious  campaign,  in  which  he  acted  so  distinguished  a  part, 
and  trust  he  may  be  soon  restored  in  renewed  health  to  the 
bosom  of  his  family." 

An  interesting  part  of  the  program  was  the  recitation  of  Pot- 
ter's "Hymn  of  the  Alamo"  and  Ira  Munson's  "Our  Flag." 

"The  company  next  repaired,"  says  the  Texas  Democrat  of 
November  18,  1846,  "to  the  ballroom,  which  was  tastefully  orna- 
mented by  evergreens  and  decorated  by  the  broad  flag  of  the 
United  States  and  (what  was  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  Texian) 
our  own  proud  starlit  banner  of  by-gone  days  surrounded  by  the 
trophies  of  San  Jacinto,  the  colors  of  the  different  Mexican  regi- 
ments that  were  beaten  on  that  famous  field.  Not  the  least  finely 
executed  conceit  was  a  pyramid,  erected  'To  the  Vanquishers  of 
Monterey,'  surmounted  by  the  flags  of  the  United  States  and  of 
the  former  Republic  of  Texas.  Youth,  beauty,  and  wit  and  worth 
were  present — pleasure  danced  upon  every  countenance — gaiety 
flashed  from  every  eye.  Fairy  forms  floated  through  the  mazy 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  189 


dance — the  ear  of  the  lovely  heard,  with  pleasure,  praises  as  they 
gushed  from  the  lips  of  the  brave  and  generous.  The  drowsy 
ear  of  Night  was  disturbed  by  the  dulcet  notes  of  the  violin  and 
the  measured  tread  of  the  dance,  and  the  sable  curtain  of  dark- 
ness was  almost  withdrawn  when  the  party  dispersed.  Each  one 
seemed  to  feel  that 

"  'Joy  so  seldom  weaves  a  chain 
Like  this  to-night,  that  oh,  'tis  pain 
To  break  its  link  so  soon. ' 

"This  festive  affair  was  a  marvelous  reminder  of  the  inaugura- 
tion ball  of  President  Houston  at  the  same  place  about  five  years 
before.  But  how  wonderfully  changed  for  the  better  the  for- 
tunes of  Texas  now,  jollifying  over  her  old  enemy  in  the  act  of 
biting  the  dust !" 

No  Texan  ever  won  a  brighter  military  reputation  than  Hen- 
derson in  the  United  States  army  before  or  since ;  but  his  forte 
was  statesmanship.  Henderson's  state  papers,  as  diplomat  and 
Governor,  entitle  him  to  the  first  rank  among  the  truly  great 
men  of  Texas.15 

i  5  Henderson  was  from  the  Old  North  State.  He  reached  Texas  with 
his  military  company  in  1836,  just  too  late  for  the  battle  of  San 
Jacinto.  He  was  one  of  those  magnetic  men  that  impress  you  at  first 
sight  as  being  of  no  ordinary  stamp.  He  was  tall  and  rather  delicate 
in  appearance,  with  light  hair,  fair  complexion,  and  fine  gray  eyes;  af- 
fable, and  sparkling  all  over  with  genuine  vivacity.  Houston  soon 
learned  to  like  him  and  always  regarded  him  as  one  of  our  ablest  men. 
Henderson  successively  filled  the  offices  of  attorney  general,  secretary 
of  state,  minister  to  England  and  France,  and  minister  to  the  United 
States  before  becoming  governor  and  was  recognized  by  the  bar  as  one 
of  the  most  brilliant  lawyers  in  the  State. 


190  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  ELEVEN. 

Wood's  Administration  —  Federal  Usurpation  at  Santa  Fe  —  The  Public 
Debt — Governor  Bell — Settlement  of  the  Santa  Fe  Question — Seat  of 
Government  Election  —  Texas  Newspapers  —  Scaling  the  Public 
Debt — Whig- Convention  in  1852  —  Election  of  Pease  as  Governor  Over 
Ochiltree  —  Education,  Railroads,  Public  Buildings  —  Settlement  of 
the  Public  Debt  —  The  Know-Nothing  Party  —  The  Organized  Dem- 
ocracy in  1856  —  Know-Nothing  Convention  at  Austin  —  Houston  the 
Know-Nothing  Leader  in  Texas  —  The  National  Canvass,  and  Per- 
sonal Incidents. 

In  1847,  at  the  first  general  election  under  the  State  govern- 
ment, Geo.  T.  Wood,  of  Polk  County,  colonel  of  the  Second  Texas 
regiment  at  Monterey,  was  chosen  Governor,  and  John  A.  Greer, 
of  San  Augustine,  Lieutenant-Governor.16 

The  disturbing  question  at  this  time  was  the  Santa  Fe  terri- 
tory. It  was  organized  by  the  Second  Legislature  into  Santa  Fe 
County,  and  made  one  of  the  judicial  districts  of  Texas,  and 
Judge  S.  M.  Baird  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Wood  to  pro- 
ceed to  Santa  Fe  and  organize  his  court.  The  United  States 
military  forces  had  conquered  Santa  Fe  in  1846,  and  did  not 
seem  disposed  to  acknowledge  the  sovereignty  of  Texas  over  that 
ierritory.  On  its  first  occupancy,  however,  by  Federal  troops, 
Governor  Henderson  had  protested  against  it  to  President  Polk, 
asserting  the  right  of  Texas  to  all  the  country  on  the  east  side 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  up  to  its  source.  The  reply,  through  the  Sec- 
retary of  State,  Mr.  Buchanan,  was  that  the  Federal  occupancy 
was  only  temporary  and  not  in  derogation  of  the  rights  of  Texas. 

i  s  Geo.  T.  Wood  was  a  native  Georgian,  and  came  to  Texas  in  1836, 
about  the  time  I  arrived,  and  became  a  planter  in  Polk  County.  Wood 
was  a  quiet,  unassuming  man,  of  considerable  force  of  character,  as 
evidenced  by  his  being  elected  Congressman  of  the  Republic,  brigadier 
general  of  the  militia,  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  volunteers,  and  lastly, 
Governor  of  the  State. 

He  was  called  a  good-looking  man,  and  was  of  more  than  medium 
height;  well  formed,  strong  and  vigorous  in  appearance. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  Governor  he  retired  to  private  life, 
and  died  in  Panola  County  in  1856. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  191 


But  President  Taylor  refused  to  be  bound  by  the  action  of 
President  Polk,  and  it  really  seemed  as  if  the  Federal  govern- 
ment, under  a  Whig  administration,  was  going  to  show  bad  faith, 
to  Texas.  Governor  Wood  in  all  his  official  papers  vigorously 
maintained  the  right  of  Texas  to  Santa  Fe  and  to  all  the  terri- 
tory east  of  the  Eio  Grande,  our  western  boundary  line  as  estab- 
lished by  law  in  1836.  The  Legislature,  by  joint  resolution,  re- 
asserted that  right  and  instructed  our  senators  and  representa- 
tives in  Congress  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors  to  have  such 
measures  taken  by  the  Federal  government  as  would  secure 
Texas  from  any  encroachment  upon  her  rights  by  the  people  of 
Santa  Fe,  and  requested  the  Governor  to  ask  the  President  of 
the  United  States  to  order  the  military  officers  at  Santa  Fe  to 
aid  the  officials  of  Texas  in  effecting  the  county  organization. 
The  excitement  ran  high  in  Texas,  and  even  war  appeared  not 
improbable,  but  the  matter  drifted  and  went  over  for  settlement 
to  the  next  administration. 

The  public  debt  question  was  also  pressing  for  settlement.  In 
a  message  to  the  Legislature,  Governor  Wood  said:  "The  debt 
must  be  paid.  The  honor  of  the  State  must  stand  without  blem- 
ish." The  Legislature,  in  response,  enacted  a  law  requiring  the 
Auditor  and  Comptroller  of  Public  Accounts  to  notify  through 
the  newspapers  of  Austin,  New  Orleans,  New  York,  and  Wash- 
ington, all  holders  of  claims  against  the  Republic  of  Texas  to 
present  them  for  allowance  on  or  before  November,  1849. 

At  the  next  election,  in  August,  1849,  Wood  was  beaten  for 
the  second  term  by  Peter  Hansbrough  Bell,  and  Greer  succeeded 
himself  as  Lieutenant-Governor.  John  W.  Harris  was  elected 
Attorney-General,  James  B.  Shaw  Comptroller,  and  Thos.  Win. 
Ward  Commissioner  of  the  Land  Office.  W.  D.  Miller  was  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  State,  and  J.  C.  Pitts  Adjutant-General.17 

1 7  Peter  Hansbrough  Bell  was  a  Virginian — a  fine  type  of  southern 
gentleman,  a  well-built,  handsome  young  fellow  when  he  landed  in 
Texas.  He  displayed  much  pluck  and  determination  in  participating 
as  a  private  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  He  was  always  affable  and 
kind;  became  popular;  rose  rapidly  in  public  estimation;  commanded  a 
company  of  rangers  at  an  early  day;  fought  bravely  at  Monterey  as 
lieutenant-colonel  in  Wood's  regiment,  and  then  became  Governor  of 
Texas.  He  afterwards  married  in  Washington  City  a  wealthy  lady  who 


192  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


This  Legislature  extended  the  time  for  creditors  to  present 
their  claims  against  the  Kepublic  to  September.  1851,  after 
which  they  would  be  barred,  and  also  passed  a  law  to  pay  off 
the  public  creditors  in  land  at  50  cents  per  acre.  But  few  ac- 
cepted this  offer,  as  confidence  in  the  good  faith  of  the  State 
was  unimpaired.  The  final  solution  of  the  public  debt,  how- 
ever, came  only  with  the  settlement  of  the  Santa  Fe  question  by 
Congress. 

Texas  had,  through  Governor  Bell,  expressed  her  desire  to  sell 
part  of  the  public  domain  to  the  United  States  in  order  to  pay 
the  public  debt.  An  opportunity  soon  offered  by  the  passage 
through  Congress  of  the  Pearce  boundary  bill.  Under  this  Texas 
was  offered,  in  exchange  for  her  Santa  Fe  claim,  $10,000,000 
in  stock,  bearing  5  per  cent  interest,  and  redeemable  at  the  end 
of  fourteen  years.  The  stock  was  to  issue  as  soon  as  the  Presi- 
dent was  informed  officially  of  the  acceptance  of  the  offer  by 
Texas ;  provided,  that  not  more  than  $5,000,000  were  to  be  paid 
until  the  creditors  of  the  State  filed  at  the  treasury  of  the  United 
States  releases  of  claims  against  the  United  States. 

The  question  of  the  acceptance  of  the  provisions  of  the  Pearce 
boundary  bill  was  decided,  by  popular  vote,  in  the  affirmative, 
after  thorough  discussion. 

Many  indignation  meetings,  however,  were  held  over  the  State, 
and  it  looked  for  awhile  like  the  measure  would  be  defeated  and 
that  a  fight  was  inevitable.  Mississippi  offered  to  aid  Texas  in 
the  event  of  war.  But  the  Legislature  accepted  the  bill,  and  thus 
a  quietus  was  put  upon  two  disturbing  questions :  the  Santa  Fe 
dispute  was  honorably  settled,  and  the  public  debt  put  in  a  course 
of  easy  liquidation. 

The  Constitution  fixed  the  seat  of  government  at  Austin  until 
1850,  and  then  it  was  to  be  determined  by  a  popular  vote  until 
1870.  At  that  time  another  election  was  to  settle  the  seat  of  gov- 
ernment question  permanently. 

At  the  election  on  this  subject  held  in  March,  1850,  Austin 
received  7674  votes,  Palestine  1854,  and  Tehuacana  1143.  There 

owned  much  slave  property.  After  living  in  Texas  a  short  time  they 
removed  to  North  Carolina.  When  the  slaves  were  freed,  Bell  was  left 
in  his  old  age  very  poor.  He  was  on  the  pension  roll  of  Texas  at  the 
time  of  his  death  a  few  years  ago. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  19a 


were  a  few  scattering  votes  cast  for  Washington,  Huntsville,  and 
other  towns.  So  this  vexed  question  was  settled  in  favor  of  Aus- 
tin for  twenty  years  at  least. 

As  an  evidence  of  progress  in  Texas  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  newspapers  published  in  1849 :  Aegis  of  Truth, 
Henderson;  American  Flag  (Spanish-English),  Brownsville; 
Bonham  Advertiser,  Bonham;  Civilian  and  Galveston  Gazette, 
Galveston  (tri- weekly  and  weekly)  ;  Colorado  Tribune,  Corpus 
Christi;  Corpus  Christi  Star,  Corpus  Christi  (Spanish-English)  ; 
De  Cordova's  Herald  and  Immigrants'  Guide,  Houston 
(monthly)  ;  Telegraph  and  Texas  Register,  Houston;  Galveston 
News,  Galveston  (tri-weekly  and  weekly)  ;  Galveston  Zeitung, 
(German,  weekly  and  semi-weekly)  ;  Houston  Gazette,  Houston ; 
Independent  Monitor,  Jefferson;  Mercantile  Advertiser,  Hous- 
ton; Morning  Star,  Houston  (tri-weekly)  ;  Nacogdoches  Times, 
Nacogdoches ;  Northern  Standard,  Clarksville;  The  Pioneer, 
Palestine;  Star  State  Patriot,  Marshall;  Texas  Banner,  Hunts- 
ville ;  Texas  Presbyterian,  Houston ;  Texas  Ranger,  Washington ; 
Texas  Republican,  Marshall ;  Texas  State  Gazette,  Austin ;  Texas 
Union,  San  Augustine;  Wesleyan  Banner,  Houston;  Western 
Star,  Clarksville;  Western  Texan,  San  Antonio. 

The  list  is  taken  from  an  issue  of  the  Texas  Republican.  Of 
these  newspapers,  the  Telegraph,  then  of  Columbia,  is  the  only 
one  that  I  can  call  to  mind  as  published  in  Texas  in  1836.  In 
this  list  are  the  historic  newspapers  of  early  Texas :  The  Tele- 
graph and  Texas  Register,  antedating  the  Republic;  the  Galves- 
ton News,  founded  in  1842;  the  Northern  Standard,  Col.  Chas. 
De  Morse's  organ;  the  Texas  Republican,  edited  by  Col.  R.  W. 
Loughery;  the  Morning  Star  (the  first  Texas  daily),  published 
by  Cruger,  and  the  Texas  State  Gazette,  founded  by  W.  H.  Cush- 
ney  in  the  fall  of  1849.  The  Gazette  soon  got  to  be,  under  the 
editorial  control  and  management  of  John  Marshall,  a  paper  of 
widespread  political  influence. 

The  death  of  David  S.  Kaufman  in  1851,  at  Washington,  left 
a  vacancy  to  be  filled  in  the  Eastern  congressional  district.  Sev- 
eral candidates  announced  for  the  office,  among  others  Richard- 
son Scurry  and  Judge  0.  M.  Roberts,  the  latter  of  whom  re- 
signed his  office  as  judge  of  the  Fifth  district  to  enter  the  race. 
At  the  Democratic  congressional  convention  held  at  Henderson 
13 


194  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


in  June,  1851,  Scurry  beat  Roberts  for  the  nomination,  and  was 
elected  by  a  good  majority  at  the  polls. 

This,  I  believe  was  the  first  nominating  Democratic  conven- 
tion ever  held  in  Texas.  No  business  other  than  the  selection  of 
a  candidate  for  Congress  was  transacted  by  it. 

In  1851  Bell  was  re-elected  Governor,  James  W.  Henderson 
succeeded  Greer  as  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  Dr.  Chas.  G. 
Keenan  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House. 

Under  a  system  of  scaling  adopted  by  the  Legislature  the  pub- 
lic debt  began  to  be  rapidly  paid  off,  but  not  entirely  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  all  the  creditors.  Scaling  was  bad,  but  it  was  bor- 
rowed from  the  practice  of  the  United  States  in  settling  their 
first  war  debt.  Governor  James  Hamilton,  the  early  financial 
friend  of  Texas,  opposed  scaling  in  toto,  saying,  "What  a  nation 
promises  to  pay  is  its  public  debt."  Volney  Howard.  Pilsbury's 
successor  in  the  Western  district,  declined  a  re-election  to  Con- 
gress in  the  spring  of  1853,  and  removed  to  California  to  accept 
a  Federal  office  tendered  him. 

Governor  Bell,  chosen  congressman  in  Volney  Howard's  dis- 
trict over  Wm.  R.  Scurry  in  1853,  turned  over  his  office  to  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor J.  W.  Henderson,  who  acted  as  Governor  a  few 
weeks.  J.  W.  was  called  by  the  familiar  sobriquet  of  "Smoky," 
to  distinguish  him  from  the  elegant  J.  Pinckney. 

In  April,  1852,  a  Whig  convention  for  Eastern  Texas  was  held 
in  Tyler  and  organized  by  the  election  of  C.  C.  Mills,  of  Harrir 
son,  as  chairman,  and  J.  R.  Armstrong,  of  Rusk,  and  T.  Lewell- 
ing,  of  Smith,  as  secretaries. 

Strong  Whig,  or  anti-Democratic,  resolutions  were  reported 
by  the  committee  (Ochiltree,  Trimble,  Gammage,  Swan,  and 
John  C.  Robertson)  and  adopted.  Colonel  Mills  was  nominated 
as  elector  for  the  State  at  large,  and  Dr.  Throckmorton,  of  Col- 
lin,  elector  for  the  First  Congressional  district.  Wm.  Stedman, 
of  Harrison,  and  others  were  selected  to  prepare  an  address  to 
the  people.  A  full  delegation,  headed  by  W.  B.  Ochiltree  and 
Ben  Epperson,  were  appointed  delegates  to  the  ensuing  National 
Whig  convention.  In  conclusion,  Jno.  C.  Robertson,  of  Smith, 
expressed  his  dissent  from  the  resolutions  adopted,  and  begged 
leave  to  retire  from  the  convention. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  195 


In  view  of  the  organized  opposition,  the  Democrats  tried  to 
assemble  a  State  convention  in  1853,  first,  in  February  at  Aus- 
tin, and  in  June  at  Washington,  but  without  success. 

The  Whigs  centered  that  year  on  W.  B.  Ochiltree  for  Gov- 
ernor. E.  M.  Pease,  J.  W.  Dancy,  Geo.  T.  Wood,  M.  T.  John- 
son, and  Thomas  J.  Chambers  were  his  Democratic  opponents. 
Things  began  to  look  squally  for  the  Democracy,  but  at  the  cru- 
cial moment  M.  T.  Johnson  nobly  withdrew  from  the  race  and, 
throwing  his  influence  to  Pease,  caused  his  election. 

David  C.  Dickson  was  elected  Lieutenant-Governor ;  Thos  J. 
Jennings,  Attorney-General;  Jas.  B.  Shaw,  Comptroller;  Jas.  H. 
Eaymond,  Treasurer,  and  S.  E.  Crosby,  Commissioner  of  the 
Land  Office.  Ed.  Clark  was  appointed  Secretary  of  State. 

Geo.  W.  Smyth  was  elected  congressman  in  the  Eastern  dis- 
trict without  opposition. 

Pease,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  my  predecessor  in  the  comp- 
trollership  under  President  Houston.  Since  that  time  (1837) 
he  had  largely  developed  his  mental  powers,  and  when  chosen 
Governor  was  considered  a  fine  constitutional  lawyer,  a  great 
statesman,  and  a  patriot  of  incorruptible  integrity.  Besides  this, 
Pease  was  wideawake  and  progressive  in  his  views  of  public 
policy. 

The  Governor  favored  the  establishment  of  a  general  educa- 
tional system,  including  both  common  schools  and  a  university. 
On  his  recommendation  the  Legislature  provided  for  a  system  of 
free  schools  and  set  apart  for  its  maintenance  $3,000,000  of  the 
Santa  Fe  bonds.  It  failed  to  establish  a  university,  because  the 
friends  of  the  measure  disagreed  as  to  whether  there  should  be 
one  or  two  universities.  The  school  system  was  a  crude  one ;  but, 
carrying  with  it  the  money  endowments,  indispensable  to  vital- 
izing the  educational  clause  of  the  Constitution,  it  was  a  move 
in  the  right  direction. 

Eailroad  building  was  encouraged  by  a  donation  of  sixteen 
sections  of  land  per  mile  to  all  companies  constructing  as  much 
as  twenty-five  miles,  and,  for  further  encouragement,  a  loan  was 
made  to  the  railroad  companies  of  $6000  per  mile  out  of  the 
school  fund.  General  Sidney  Sherman,  as  has  been  before  men- 
tioned, was  the  pioneer  railroad  builder  in  Texas.  His  road,  the 
Galveston,  Harrisburg  &  San  Antonio,  inaugurated  at  Harris- 


196  LUBBOCJCS  MEMOIRS. 


burg  in  1853,  extended  to  the  Colorado  at  the  beginning  of  the 
civil  war.  Next  was  begun  the  Houston  &  Texas  Central,  under 
Paul  Bremond. 

The  Legislature  also  made  ample  provision  for  the  building 
and  endowment  of  the  several  asylums  at  Austin. 

The  canvass  of  1855  made  still  plainer  the  necessity  for  strict 
Democratic  organization.  In  June  of  that  year  the  Know-Noth- 
ing  party  held  a  State  convention18  at  Washington,  on  the 
Brazos,  and  nominated  David  C.  Dickson  for  Governor,  W.  G.  W. 
Jowers  for  Lieutenant-Governor,  John  Hancock  for  Congress  in 
the  Western  district,  and  Lem  D.  Evans  for  Congress  in  the 
Eastern  district. 

Governor  Pease,  though  not  entirely  acceptable  to  the  Democ- 
racy on  account  of  his  favoring  State  construction  of  railroads, 
had  no  Democratic  contestant,  and  beat  Dickson  about  9000 
votes.  Hardin  E.  Runnels  of  Bowie  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor.  Ex-Governor  Bell  was  easily  re-elected  to  Congress 
in  his  district,  in  spite  of  the  efforts  of  the  independents  for 
Judge  Hancock.  In  the  east,  the  canvass  agaist  Lem.  Evans 
opened  with  three  Democratic  candidates  in  the  field:  Geo.  W. 
Chilton,  Jno.  T.  Mills,  and  Matt  Ward.  Chilton  and  Mills,  how- 
ever, soon  withdrew  in  favor  of  Matt  Ward.  After  a  hard  fight 
Evans  was  elected  by  a  close  margin,  General  Houston's  influ- 
ence, perhaps,  turning  the  scale  in  his  favor. 

The  new  stone  capitol,  on  Capitol  hill,  begun  in  Bell's  admin- 
istration and  finished  in  1855,  was  first  occupied  by  the  Sixth 
Legislature,  November  5,  1855,  and  Speaker  H.  P.  Bee,  on  tak- 
ing the  chair,  made  some  felicitous  remarks  on  the  completion  of 
the  capitol. 

Governor  Pease  also  had  the  honor  of  christening  the  executive 
mansion  (built  during  his  term  of  office)  by  making  it  his  official 
residence. 

In  his  message  to  this  Legislature  the  Governor  called  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  internal  improvements  and  the  unsatis- 
factory condition  of  the  public  debt.  He  boldly  advocated  the 

i  8  R.  E.  B.  Baylor  was  the  grand  president;  first  vice-president, 
Thos.  M.  Likens,  of  Rusk;  second  vice-president,  N.  Holland,  of  Austin, 
third  vice-president,  J.  L.  Hewitt,  of  Bexar. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  197 


construction  and  ownership  of  railroads  by  the  State,  in  which 
he  differed  from  the  Democratic  party.  Experience  with  these 
great  corporations  has  made  many  Democrats,  since  then,  favor 
Pease's  policy.  It  is  needless  to  say,  perhaps,  that  I  think  rail- 
way legislation  by  a  commission  is  the  proper  thing  under  all 
circumstances. 

The  expenses  of  the  State  government  had  been  paid  out  of  the 
Santa  Fe  fund  for  several  years,  and  the  State  taxes  had  been 
relinquished  to  the  several  counties  for  the  purpose  of  building 
courthouses  and  jails.  Governor  Pease,  believing  that  the  time 
had  come  to  change  this  policy,  recommended  the  repeal  of  the 
law  on  this  subject. 

Finally  Congress  intervened  in  behalf  of  dissatisfied  creditors 
of  the  Republic  and  passed  a  law,  first  known  as  the  "public  debt 
bill,"  allowing  Texas  $2,750,000  additional  to  the  remaining 
$5,000,000  still  due.  This  enabled  Texas  to  raise  the  scale 
adopted  and  pay  nearer  the  face  value  of  the  public  debt.  The 
payment  of  this  additional  amount  was  conditioned  on  the  re- 
linquishment  by  Texas  of  all  her  claims  against  the  United 
States  for  Indian  depredations  during  the  existence  of  the  Re- 
public, amounting,  according  to  Senator  Rusk,  to  about  $3,800,- 
000.  This  was  rather  a  hard  bargain,  and  the  "public  debt  bill" 
was  submitted  to  a  popular  vote  for  acceptance  or  rejection — not 
a  bad  way  to  settle  a  grave  public  question.  The  people  of  Texas 
accepted  it  at  the  ballot  box,  and  the  Legislature  enacted  the 
necessary  law,  after  a  sharp  debate.  With  the  additional  funds, 
the  whole  debt,  on  its  face  amounting  to  about  $11,000,000,  but 
scaled  down  to  a  little  more  than  half  that  amount,  was  paid  as 
rapidly  as  the  adjustments  could  be  made.  No  creditors  in  the 
world's  history  ever  received  a  greater  per  cent  on  their  invest- 
ments than  did  the  creditors  of  Texas. 

In  this  canvass  an  expression  of  sympathy  for,  or  identification 
with,  the  Know-Nothing  party,  or  American  Order,  as  sometimes 
termed,  was  drawn  from  General  Houston.  In  answer  to  a  letter 
of  inquiry  as  to  his  attitude  towards  the  Know-Nothing  party 
(written  from  the  town  of  Independence,  in  July,  1855,  and 
signed  by  W.  A.  Baldwin,  John  C.  Eldridge,  Henry  L.  Graves, 
Geo.  B.  Davis.  John  P.  Collins,  Asbury  Daniel,  S.  G.  Lipscomb, 
and  Jabez  Dean),  General  Houston,  under  date  of  July  24th, 


198  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


from  the  same  place  (then  his  residence),  wrote  a  long  communi- 
cation, from  which  I  make  only  these  extracts,  to  show  his  status 
as  a  party  man : 

"Whilst  the  triumphs  of  American  principles  were  reverberat- 
ing throughout  the  Union,  I  was  silent.  When  these  principles 
are  said  to  be  in  eclipse,  I  come  forward  in  cheerfulness  and  de- 
clare that  I  believe  the  salvation  of  my  country  is  only  to  be  se- 
cured by  an  adherence  to  the  principles  of  the  American  Order. 
.  .  .  Secret  societies  have  always  been  dangerous  to  despots 
and  tyrants.  They  have  denounced  and  proscribed  Masonry; 
the  pope  and  other  potentates  have  crushed  the  ancient  order  in 
their  dominions.  .  .  .  We  have  a  high  and  holy  duty  to 
perform  to  our  country,  and  if  we,  as  Americans,  can  not  main- 
tain and  preserve  our  freedom,  is  it  possible,  or  even  probable, 
that  we  will  find  a  safe  depository  in  the  hands  of  foreigners,  or 
the  satellites  of  a  pope  whose  system  of  religion  overwhelms  all 
American  Protestants  with  denunciations  while  living,  and  de- 
nies their  bodies  burial  after  death  in  Catholic  countries?" 
This  letter  was  considered  an  avowal  of  his  connection  with  the 
Know-Nothing  party,  concerning  which  the  Texas  Republican 
editorially  said:  "General  Sam  Houston  comes  out  clearly  and 
unequivocally  in  favor  of  the  Know-Nothing  party."  General 
Houston  was  the  central  figure  at  the  great  Know-Nothing  rally 
at  Austin  on  the  23d  and  24th  of  November,  during  the  session 
of  the  Legislature.  On  that  occasion  the  general  made  a  great 
ppeech  in  advocacy  of  Know-Nothingism  as  against  the  organ- 
ized Democracy,  saying  among  other  things :  "I  am  a  Demo- 
crat, a  Jackson  Democrat.  I  have  never  been  anything  else.  He 
was  the  first  statesman  I  ever  admired.  ...  I  adopt  and 
admire  the  principles  of  the  American  party.  It  is  the  only 
party,  in  my  opinion,  whose  principles  will  maintain  the  per- 
petuity of  our  free  institutions.  .  .  .  I  am  for  Americans 
ruling  America." 

The  weather  had  been  very  inclement  and  it  was  still  lowering 
the  next  day.  Nevertheless,  a  grand  Know-Nothing  procession 
paraded  around  the  capitol.  It  was  headed  by  the  San  Antonio 
delegation  on  horseback,  followed  by  a  car  full  of  young  ladies 
dressed  in  tri-color  and  each  bearing  a  shield  representing  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  199 


several  States  of  the  Union.  Meanwhile  Gen.  Hugh  McLeod,10 
addresing  the  Know-Nothing,  or  American,  party  and  sarcastic- 
ally alluding  to  Houston's  speech,  noticed  the  continued  bad 
weather,  and  said :  "I  hope  it  is  not  an  omen  of  the  failure  of 
your  cause ;  but  if  it  is,  fellow  citizens,  propitiate  it  by  a  timely 
sacrifice,  throw  Jonah  [Houston]  overboard.  The  prophet  has 
failed  to  deliver  the  true  message  to  the  people — his  excuses  are 
ingenuous,  but  deceptive,  and  the  ship  will  labor  as  the  storm  in- 
creases. The  sacrifice  is  due  to  Nineveh,  and  the  ship  to  Democ- 
racy and  America.  Jonah  should  be  thrown  overboard." 

It  could  scarcely  be  said  that  the  Texans  were  thoroughly 
American  till  they  had  put  themselves  in  accord  with  the  great 
political  parties  of  the  Union.  When  happily  free  from  the  em- 
barrassments of  a  public  debt  and  a  boundary  dispute,  Texas 
was  ripe  for  party  organization.  Up  to  1856  there  were  as  many 
individual  candidates  for  Governor  as  chose  to  run.  Hobbies, 
apart  from  the  great  party  issues,  were  common  to  all  of  them, 
and  the  canvasses  appeared  unseemly  scrambles  to  get  into  office 
without  regard  to  fixed  principles  or  questions  of  public  policy. 
Always  dangerous  to  Democratic  success,  the  practice  had  now 
-grown  to  be  a  nuisance.  Principles,  not  personalities,  were  to 
determine  henceforth. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Democratic  party,  held  in  the  hall  of  the 
House  of  Eepresentatives  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  January, 
1856,  on  motion  of  Hon.  H.  P.  Bee,  Col.  Matt  Ward,  of  Cass, 
was  called  to  the  chair;  whereupon,  on  motion  of  Hon.  H.  E. 
Runnels,  of  Bowie,  F.  E.  Lubbock,  of  Harris,  was  appointed  sec- 
retary. The  chairman  having  explained  the  object  of  the  meet- 
ing to  be  preparatory  to  the  organizing  of  the  Democratic  con- 
vention, E.  A.  Palmer  moved  a  call  of  the  counties  with  the 
names  of  the  delegates.  There  were  ninety  counties,  represented 

i »  McLeod  was  a  Virginian  and  a  West  Pointer  in  military  training; 
came  to  Texas  during  the  revolution:  was  aide  to  Gen.  Rusk  in  the 
Cherokee  war  in  1839;  led  the  disastrous  Santa  Fe  expedition  in  1841, 
and  had  been  a  member  of  the  Texan  Congress  and  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature. Houston  and  McLeod  were  not  friends.  He  died  a  Confederate 
brigadier,  in  Virginia,  in  1861.  His  remains  rest  in  the  State  cemetery 
at  Austin. 


200  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


with  the  names  of  two  hundred  and  forty-five  delegates.20  Upon 
the  call  being  concluded,  Judge  J.  Mills,  of  Lamar;  Wm.  R. 
Scurry,  of  Victoria ;  General  Waul,  of  Bexar ;  F.  R.  Lubbock,  of 
Harris;  Colonel  Hubbard  and  Jack  Davis,  of  Smith;  Guy  M. 
Bryan,  of  Brazoria,  and  Thomas  J.  Jennings,  were  severally 
called  upon  and  addressed  the  meeting. 

On  motion  of  Ashbel  Smith,  of  Harris,  it  was 

"Resolved,  That  this  meeting  now  adjourn  until  tomorrow  at 
3  o'clock  p.  m.,  at  that  time  to  meet  in  convention  in  the  hall  of 
the  House  of  Representatives." 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution  passed  on  the  15th,  the  Dem- 
ocratic State  convention  met  in  the  Hall  of  Representatives  at 
3  p.  m.  January  16,  1856,  Matt  Ward,  of  Cass,  in  the  chair,  and 

F.  R.  Lubbock  secretary. 

On  motion  of  A.  G.  Weir,  of  Travis,  the  rules  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  were  adopted  to  govern  the  convention,  as  far 
as  applicable. 

On  motion,  Matt  Ward,  of  Cass,  was  declared  by  acclamation 
president  of  the  convention.  The  vice-presidents  were  John  T. 
Mills,  of  Lamar;  N.  G.  Weir,  of  Travis;  J.  M.  Devine,  of  Bexar; 

G.  W.  Hill,  of  Navarro;  Wm.  S.  Taylor,  of  Cherokee;  J    W. 

*°  Among  those  present,  not  elsewhere  mentioned,  were:  Jesse 
Billingsly,  of  Bastrop;  James  Shaw,  of  Brazos;  E.  H.  Rogan,  of  Caldwell; 
E.  B.  Scarborough,  of  Cameron;  M.  D.  K.  Taylor  and  J.  F.  Nash,  of 
Cass;  Wm.  S.  Taylor  and  R.  H.  Quinn,  of  Cherokee;  H.  Seele  and  Jacob 
Waelder,  of  Comal;  Jos.  F.  Crosby,  of  El  Paso;  J.  W.  Dancy,  of  Fay- 
ette;  M.  M.  Potter  and  Jno.  Henry  Brown,  of  Galveston;  W.  T.  Lock- 
ridge,  of  Gonzales;  C.  R.  Johns,  of  Hays;  P.  B.  Greenwood,  of  Hender- 
son: R.  L.  Askew,  of  Hopkins;  C.  H.  Randolph,  of  Houston;  Jas.  Hooker, 
of  Hunt;  F.  M.  White,  of  Jackson;  M.  J.  Bonner  and  W.  M.  Williams, 
of  Lamar;  E.  T.  Branch,  of  Liberty;  N.  W.  Battle  and  Thos.  Henderson, 
of  McLennan;  Alex  W.  Sneed,  of  Milam;  Matt  Whiltaker  and  Thos.  P. 
Ochiltree,  of  Nacogdoches;  G.  W.  Hill,  of  Navarro;  W.  R.  Poag,  of 
Panola;  W.  R.  Moore,  of  Polk;  Giles  Boggess,  M.  D.  Ector,  J.  H.  Parsons 
and  C.  J.  Garrison,  of  Rusk;  G.  W.  Chilton  and  E.  E.  Lott,  of  Smith; 
Isaac  Parker,  of  Tarrant;  W.  S.  Oldham,  Jas.  G.  Swisher,  G.  W.  Pas- 
chal, P.  DoCordova,  P.  B.  Oalhoun,  A.  W.  Terrell,  Jno.  Marshall,  Geo. 
Flournoy;  Jno.  W.  Harris  and  E.  M.  Pease,  of  Travis;  N.  B.  Charlton, 
of  Tyler;  Jno.  J.  Lynn,  of  Victoria;  Jno.  S.  Besser,  of  Walker;  J.  W. 
McDade  and  Jas.  Willie,  of  Washington;  Jonathan  Russell  and  Henry 
Stout,  of  Wood. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  201 


Dancy,  of  Fayette.  F.  R.  Lubbock,  T.  J.  Johnson  of  Cherokee, 
and  R.  E.  Clements  of  Bexar,  were  declared  secretaries. 

As  the  basis  of  representation  it  was  resolved,  on  motion  of 
Mr.  Brown,  of  Galveston, 

"1.  That  every  county  in  the  State  which  may  have  dele- 
gates in  this  convention  shall  be  entitled  to  one  vote,  regardless 
of  its  representation  in  the  State  Legislature. 

"2.  That  all  counties  entitled  to  separate  representation  in 
the  State  Legislature  shall,  in  addition  to  the  vote  aforesaid,  be 
entitled  to  as  many  additional  votes  as  such  county  or  counties 
may  have  separate  representatives  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives." 

Where  a  county  had  no  delegate  in  the  convention,  any  re- 
spectable citizen  of  that  county  was  allowed,  on  motion  of  R.  B. 
Hubbard,  a  seat  as  its  representative.  Over  two  hundred  dele- 
gates were  present  from  ninety-one  out  of  ninety-nine  counties. 

The  committee  on  the  platform  consisted  of  J.  H.  Carsons, 
chairman ;  T.  N.  Waul,  Ashbel  Smith,  Wm.  S.  Taylor,  Wm.  R. 
Scurry,  C.  R.  Johns,  Nat  Terry,  John  T.  Mills,  Geo.  W.  Paschal, 
H.  R.  Runnels,  H.  P.  Bee,  J.  M.  Burroughs,  and  M.  M.  Potter. 

The  main  features  of  the  platform  adopted,  were  reaffirmance 
of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  embodied  in  the 
Baltimore  platform  of  1852;  opposition  to  all  secret  political 
societies,  whether  called  American,  Know-Nothing,  or  by  any 
other  delusive  name;  opposition  to  all  proscription  on  account 
of  place  of  birth  or  particular  religious  creed;  endorsement  of 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act  as  "a  triumph  of  the  Constitution  over 
fanaticism  and  sectional  madness;"  equality  of  the  States  and 
the  right  of  slavery  to  protection  in  the  Territories  until  ad- 
mitted as  States  into  the  Union,  at  which  time  the  people  will 
say  in  their  Constitutions  whether  slavery  is  to  be  tolerated  any 
longer  or  not. 

Mr.  Chilton,  of  Smith,  offered  a  resolution  approving  the  vote 
of  Senator  Rusk  and  condemning  that  of  Senator  Houston  on 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill.  On  a  portion  of  the  language  of  said 
resolution  there  was  considerable  discussion,  in  which  Mr.  Chil- 
ton favored  and  Messrs.  Davis  of  Smith,  Scott,  Ashbel  Smith 
of  Harris,  Oldham,  Mills  of  Lamar,  Waul  and  Lubbock  opposed 


202  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


the  adoption  of  the  resolution,  whereupon  Judge  Oldham  offered 
the  following  substitute,  which  was  unanimously  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  this  convention  do  most  fully  and  cordially 
indorse  and  approve  the  votes  of  Senator  Rusk  and  Represen- 
tatives Geo.  W.  Smyth  and  Peter  H.  Bell  upon  the  Kansas- Ne- 
braska Act,  and  that  we  do  further  most  decidedly  disapprove 
the  vote  of  Senator  Houston  upon  said  act,  as  not  in  accordance 
with  the  Democracy  of  Texas." 

My  unwavering  personal  regard  for  General  Houston  caused 
me  to  oppose  the  strong  condemnatory  original  resolution ;  yet 
it  could  not  be  denied  that  Houston,  in  his  vote  on  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Act,  had  parted  company  with  the  Texas  Democracy. 
1  voted  for  the  substitute.  Though  we  belonged  to  opposing 
political  parties  after  1854,  our  friendship  was  never  interrupted 
to  my  knowledge.  I  never  ceased  to  respect  him  for  his  talents 
and  patriotism. 

There  appeared  in  the  convention  several  political  aspirants 
fresh  from  the  ranks  of  Know-Nothingism  who,  in  my  opinion, 
were  ready  to  bolt  if  they  failed  to  get  the  desired  nomination. 
For  their  special  benefit  I  submitted  the  following  resolution : 

"Resolved,  That  this  convention  will  support  no  person  as  a 
nominee  for  any  office,  or  place  of  trust,  unless  fully  satisfied  by 
his  acts  and  declarations,  or  the  assurance  of  his  friends  in  this 
convention,  that  he  is  fully  united  with  the  Democratic  party 
upon  all  the  issues  now  existing  between  them  and  their  op- 
ponents, and  that  such  nominee  will  abide  the  decision  of  this 
convention  and  support  all  its  nominees  with  zeal  and  fervency." 

Its  appositeness  was  at  once  seen,  and  after  a  little  discussion 
it  was  adopted. 

The  following  nominations  were  made:  Attorney-General, 
James  Willie,  over  T.  J.  Jennings ;  Comptroller,  Jas.  B.  Shaw 
[  My  name  was  put  before  the  convention  with  that  of  Mr.  Shaw. 
This  was  a  surprise  to  me,  and  as  I  did  not  wish  the  honor,  I 
quickly  arose  and  addressed  the  convention,  declining  the  nomi- 
nation in  favor  of  Mr.  Shaw,  who  was  then  declared  the  nomi- 
nee by  acclamation]  ;  Treasurer,  Jas.  H.  Raymond,  over  M.  D. 
Ector,  C.  H.  Randolph,  and  N.  B.  Charlton. 

The  following  were  selected  as  delegates  to  the  National  Dem- 
ocratic convention  at  Cincinnati:  Eastern  district,  Matt  Ward, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  203 


R.  B.  Hubbard,  W.  C.  Pollock,  S.  R.  G.  Mills ;  Western  district, 
H.  P.  Bee,  Guy  M.  Bryan,  Jacob  Waelder,  W.  S.  Oldham.  And 
the  following  as  presidential  electors :  State  at  large,  Frank  W. 
Bowden  and  Wra.  R.  Scurry;  Eastern  district,  A.  J.  Hood; 
Western  district,  A.  J.  Hamilton. 

Besides  these,  as  a  hot  canvass  was  anticipated,  sub-electors 
were  appointed  for  the  seventeen  judicial  districts  of  the  State. 
I  was  sub-elector  for  the  Seventh  judicial  district. 

Ashbel  Smith,  T.  N.  Waul,  M.  M.  Potter,  Nat  Terry,  M.  D. 
Ector,  Bird  Holland,  and  N.  B.  Charlton  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  prepare  an  address  to  the  people,  and  the  following 
were  selected  as  a  State  Central  Committee:  Geo.  W.  Paschal, 
S.  G.  Sneed,  G.  W.  Chilton,  S.  H.  Morgan,  Jas.  C.  Wilson,  J. 
Pinckney  Henderson,  Thos.  S.  Lubbock,  and  John  J.  Linn — men 
afterwards  widely  diverging  in  political  sentiment. 

The  convention  "resolved"  John  Henry  Brown  and  myself 
into  a  committee  to  superintend  the  printing  and  distribution 
.of  its  proceedings,  and  thus  forced  on  me  a  little  longer  stay  in 
Austin. 

The  State  Gazette  (John  Marshall  and  W.  S.  Oldham,  edi- 
tors) complimented  President  Matt  Ward  on  his  efficient  and 
impartial  discharge  of  the  duties  of  presiding  officer,  and  for  that 
portion  of  his  utterances  in  which"  'Tie  proceeded  to  caution  the 
Democratic  party  against,  and  condemn,  that  class  of  men  who 
claim  to  be  Democrats  and  yet  advocate  the  principles  of  Know- 
Nothingism." 

The  ticket  seems  to  have  been  acceptable,  as  the  Telegraph 
says  editorially :  "Every  name  will  prove  a  tower  of  strength."21 

8  i  "We  congratulate  the  party  in  this  county  and  district,"  continues 
the  Telegraph,  "on  the  selection  of  our  friend  Francis  R.  Lubbock,  Esq., 
as  district  elector.  Mr.  Lubbock  is,  and  always  was,  a  staunch  and 
unflinching  friend  to  the  party,  and  possessing  so  great  a  degree  of  per- 
sonal popularity  and  thorough  ability  to  defend  the  principles  of  the 
platform,  he  will  be  carried  triumphantly  through  the  canvass.  A  bet- 
ter selection  could  not  have  been  made."  After  noticing  Mr.  Lubbock 's 
withdrawal  in  favor  of  Shaw  for  Comptroller,  the  Telegraph  says:  "Mr. 
Lubbock  held  the  office  (Comptroller)  in  the  early  days  of  the  old  Re- 
public and  discharged  its  duties  with  great  ability  and  faithfulness,  and 
those  now  who  knew  him  well  would  place  his  claims  on  the  score  of 
fitness  second  to  none  in  the  State.'7 — ED. 


204  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


My  resolution  on  party  fealty  and  obligation  continued  the 
rule  in  Democratic  conventions  until  the  doctrine  was  univer- 
sally accepted  by  fair-minded  men.  It  was  indeed  a  kind  of  par- 
aphrase of  the  golden  rule  as  applied  to  politics.  I  have  never 
thought  of  departing  from  it;  not  that  I  have  always  approved, 
in  my  conscience,  of  party  action,  for  that  in  some  instances  has 
been  contrary  to  my  judgment,  but  for  the  reason  that  fidelity 
to  the  party  in  whose  cardinal  principles  I  fully  believe  is  under 
any  and  all  circumstances  preferable  to  giving  aid  and  comfort 
to  its  enemies.  This  conviction  is  based  upon  the  fact  that  party 
government  is  necessary  in  all  free  countries,  especially  in  ours. 

The  State  convention  of  the  American,  or  Know- Nothing, 
party  was  held  at  Austin  January  21,  1856. 

John  Caldwell,  of  Bastrop,  was  elected  president,  and  the  sec- 
retaries were  L.  H.  Hutchings,  of  Travis,  and  Ben  F.  Hill,  of 
Calhoun. 

Gen.  Hugh  McLeod,  Hon.  W.  P.  Kittrell,  and  Judge  J.  W. 
Allen,  being  successively  called  upon,  most  eloquently  addressed 
the  convention  in  advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  American 
party,  as  also  did  W.  H.  Henderson,  of  Travis,  B.  B.  Fly,  of  Gon- 
zales,  and  J.  W.  Flanagan,  of  Eusk. 

The  presidential  electors  were:  John  A.  Wilcox,  of  Bexar, 
and  Robert  H.  Taylor,  of  Fannin,  for  the  State  at  large;  J.  W. 
Flanagan,  of  Rusk,  for  the  Eastern  district,  and  Thomas  W. 
Blake,  of  Leon,  for  the  Western  district.  Wm.  Stedman,  of 
Rusk,  was  nominated  for  Attorney-General ;  Wm.  Tarlton,  of 
Harrison,  for  Treasurer,  and  E.  S.  -C.  Robertson,  of  Bell,  for 
Comptroller. 

The  platform  expressed  devotion  to  the  Constitution  and  the 
Union,  and  declared  in  favor  of  native  Americans  for  office ;  ex- 
tension of  the  naturalization  period  for  foreigners  to  twenty- 
one  years ;  liberty  of  conscience  and  liberty  of  the  press,  and  the 
abolishment  of  the  secrecy  in  the  party's  proceedings.  It 
omitted  the  clause  in  the  national  platform  proscribing  Catholics. 

The  national  platform,  adopted  at  Philadelphia,  February  21, 
1856,  professed  fealty  to  the  Constitution  and  Union;  opposed 
interference  with  slavery  in  the  States;  declared  that  Americans 
rmist  rule  America ;  favored  requiring  a  residence  of  twenty-one 
years  in  the  country  for  the  naturalization  of  foreigners,  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  205 


opposed  the  elevation  to  office  of  any  person  who  acknowledged 
allegiance  to  any  foreign  prince,  potentate,  or  power.  The  latter 
enunciation  was  aimed  at  the  Catholics,  who,  it  was  claimed,  ac- 
knowledged allegiance  to  the  pope.  According  to  Know-Nothing 
tenets,  none  but  native-born  Protestant  citizens  should  be  fa- 
vored for  office.  Ex-President  Millard  Fillmore  and  Andrew 
Jackson  Donelson,  the  latter  of  whom  figured  so  prominently  in 
annexation,  were  put  forward  as  the  party's  national  standard 
bearers. 

General  Houston  was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  Know- 
Nothing  party  in  Texas,  and  had  already  thrown  down  the 
gauntlet  of  defiance  to  the  Democracy  in  a  great  speech  under 
the  very  nose  of  a  Democratic  Legislature. 

My  cattle  business,  persisted  in  for  ten  years  on  Briscoe's  ad- 
vice, had  indeed  proved  prosperous  before  the  end  of  that  period, 
and  the  ranch  and  farm  were  in  1855  paying  a  large  revenue  over 
and  above  expenses.  In  fact,  I  had  become  the  largest  cattle 
owner  between  the  Trinity  and  the  Brazos.  This  was  the  result 
of  close  attention  to  business  and  giving  it  my  personal  super- 
vision, while  a  responsible  deputy  kept  in  good  shape  the  affairs 
of  the  district  clerk's  office. 

I  now  felt  safe  in  venturing  out  into  State  politics,  and  I  had 
no  hesitancy  in  accepting  the  position  of  delegate  to  represent 
my  county  in  the  first  Democratic  State  convention  ever  held  in 
Texas,  and  being  appointed  one  of  the  sub-electors,  I  felt  in 
honor  bound  to  serve  the  party. 

In  1856  the  National  Democracy  was  confronted  by  two  new 
hostile  political  organizations,  to  wit,  the  Kepublican  party,  the 
embodiment  of  the  anti-slavery  idea,  and  the  American,  or 
Know-Nothing,  party,  whose  cardinal  principle  was  the  proscrip- 
tion of  foreigners  and  Catholics. 

As  a  district  elector  in  the  presidential  canvass  of  1856,  I 
made  an  active  canvass  in  the  counties  east  of  the  Brazos  River, 
including  Harris,  Montgomery,  Walker,  Grimes,  Polk,  Tyler, 
Trinity,  Houston,  Anderson,  Cherokee,  Madison,  Leon,  Eusk, 
and  others. 

While  the  Know-Nothing  party  had  been  about  killed  off  in 
Virginia  by  the  forcible  teachings  of  the  great  Henry  A.  Wise, 
it  still  lingered  in  Texas,  and  that  party  and  all  the  isms  were 


206  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


fighting,  as  they  have  ever  done,  the  Democratic  party,  so  that  it 
made  the  canvass  interesting  and  somewhat  heated. 

I  recall  an  incident  that  took  place  in  Madison  County  while 
I  was  addressing  a  large  audience,  with  General  Blake  and  Cap- 
tain Whaley,  my  opponents,  sitting  on  the  stand.  Whaley  after- 
wards commanded  a  fine  company  in  the  Confederate  army, 
called  the  "Leon  Rifles,"  and  died  gallantly  on  the  battlefield. 

An  old  man,  rising  up  from  his  seat,  called  to  me  in  a  sten- 
torian voice :  Stop,  sir,  stop  !"  I  complied  with  his  request.  He 
went  on  to  tell  me  that  I  was  an  ingrate,  a  deceiver,  a  backslider ; 
how  dared  1  come  traveling  over  the  country  making  war  on  the 
Know-Nothings,  when  I  had  before  that  traveled  around  the 
country  organizing  lodges  and  persuading  the  people  to  join  that 
party.  1  soon  saw  the  drift  of  his  charges  and  allowed  him  to 
give  me  a  most  terrible  scourging,  knowing  full  well  that  I 
should  turn  the  occurrence  greatly  to  my  advantage  and  his  com- 
plete demolition.  Upon  his  taking  his  seat  I  denied  most  em- 
phatically every  assertion  he  had  made.  He  became  very  restive 
at  my  denial.  I  then  appealed  to  Blake  and  Whaley  to  sustain 
me.  They  were  Know-Nothings,  and  knew  I  was  not.  After 
keeping  the  old  man  on  the  rack  for  awhile,  I  explained  that  it 
was  a  brother  of  mine  who  had  allowed  himself  to  be  drawn  into 
that  party  with  so  many  other  good  Democrats,  and  then  de- 
picted my  love  for  this  brother  and  his  love  for  me,  and  yet  how 
he  had,  as  I  said,  sneaked  in  without  telling  me  a  word  of  it, 
knowing  my  animosity  to  all  secret  political  parties,  and  that  it 
was  about  the  only  step  he  ever  took  in  his  mature  life  without 
conferring  with  me.  The  old  man  was  completely  demolished 
and  entirely  reconciled  when  I  got  through,  admitting  that  he 
had  been,  as  he  expressed  it,  "fooled  into  that  crowd  himself." 

While  on  this  canvass,  A.  P.  Wiley,  Esq.,  a  lawyer  of  note  and 
a  fine  speaker,  residing  at  Huntsville,  Walker  County,  visited 
several  points  with  me.  In  hastening  to  Huntsville,  at  which 
place  speaking  was  to  take  place  the  next  morning  at  a  barbecue, 
night  overtook  us  amid  the  pines  and  tall  trees  near  there. 
A  stranger  to  the  road  myself,  Wiley  was  the  guide.  At  that 
time  considerable  milling  was  done  near  the  town,  and  he  drove 
our  horse  into  a  mill  road.  We  floundered  about  through  the 
timber  from  road  to  road.  It  was  very  warm — an  August  day. 


LUBBOCIC8  MEMOIRS.  207 


We  had  gone  through  an  exciting  day;  both  of  us  had  made 
long  speeches,  and  then  we  were  badly  lost  in  the  woods.  Wiley 
would  get  out  of  the  buggy,  examine  the  road,  get  in,  and 
start  again.  Upon  getting  in  the  buggy  after  quite  a  trot  in 
the  road,  fatigued,  the  perspiration  rolling  off  him,  he  turned 
to  me  and  said  in  the  most  plaintive  manner:  "Lubbock,  we 
are  doing  a  deal  of  hard  work,  undergoing  great  hardships 
and  trials  for  Buchanan ;  do  you  think  he  will  ever  hear  of  it  ?" 
I  replied,  "It's  all  right;  we  are  working  for  the  Democratic 
party." 

Apropos  of  this,  after  Mr.  Buchanan  was  elected  I  visited 
Washington  City.  Our  Senator  Wigfall  gave  me  an  opportunity 
to  see  the  President,  and  said  to  him:  "I  wish  to  introduce  to 
you  a  Texas  friend  of  mine.  No  man  in  that  State  labored  more 
earnestly  in  your  election,  and  I  wish  to  say  he  desires  nothing." 
Mr.  Buchanan  shook  me  by  the  hand  and  appeared  quite  amazed 
at  the  announcement,  saying,  "It  is  really  strange  that  your 
friend  wants  nothing."  I  know  he  was  glad  to  see  a  good  Demo- 
crat that  time. 

In  this  canvass  the  Democratic  speakers  had  clearly  the  inside 
track,  pleading  for  equal  rights  to  all,  without  regard  to  reli- 
gious belief  or  nationality.  Besides,  the  Democratic  party  was 
the  annexation  party  in  the  United  States,  and  Texas  had  been 
almost  a  unit  on  that  question.  The  opposition  speakers  could 
not  hold  their  own  on  the  issues  presented,  and  Texas  went  Dem- 
ocratic by  twelve  or  fifteen  thousand  majority. 

The  Know-Nothing  party  in  the  presidential  canvass  of  1856 
carried  only  one  State — little  Maryland. 

Its  first  national  canvass  was  its  last.  The  party  then  sunk 
into  oblivion.  Even  General  Houston's  great  name  was  not  able 
to  give  respectable  vigor  in  Texas  to  a  party  whose  tenets  were 
so  abhorrent  to  the  ideas  of  free  government  cherished  by  the 
Democracy  and  the  American  people  at  large.  Its  memory  was 
so  unsavory  that  many  Know-Nothing  leaders  the  very  next  year 
(1857)  denied  all  connection  with  that  party  until  it  was  proved 
up  on  them.  General  Houston  himself  ignored  poor  old  Fill- 
more,  and  set  himself  down  in  the  canvass  of  1857  as  being  a 
Jackson  Democrat  and  as  having  always  been  one,  as  if  Jackson 
Democracy  was  identical  with  Know-Nothingism.  The  general 


208  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


had,  however,  prepared  himself  for  this  change  in  his  Independ- 
dence  letter  of  ]855,  in  which  he  claimed,  in  substance,  that 
Washington  and  Jackson  were  Know-Nothings.  He  had  also 
said  at  Busk,  ten  days  before  coming  to  Austin,  that  modern 
Democracy  proposed  no  remedy  against  papal  influence;  that 
the  Whig  party  had  lost  its  identity,  and  that  there  was  only  one 
party  to  which  the  American  people  could  look  for  governmental 
reforms  and  protection  against  threatening  danger.  To  that 
party,  he  said,  he  looked  with  most  sanguine  expectations  for  our 
beloved  country  to  be  redeemed  from  its  perilous  condition,  and 
in  that  connection  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  time  was  rap- 
idly approaching  when  Americans  must  govern  America,  or  our 
great  efforts  for  freedom  prove  a  failure. 

As  to  the  general's  identification  with  Know-Nothingism,  Col. 
Jno.  S.  Ford,  himself  a  strong  Know-Nothing,  editorially  says 
in  the  Texas  State  Times  of  January  19,  1856 :  "General  Hous- 
ton has  evinced  a  moral  courage  in  his  defense  of  the  American 
party  and  its  principles  which  his  enemies  would  not  have  ac- 
corded him.  .  .  .  The  party  has  had  no  more  eloquent,  fear- 
less, and  powerful  advocate  than  General  Houston.  His  speeches 
have  told  with  effect  upon  the  masses." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWELVE. 

"Waco  Convention  and  Its  Nominees,  Runnels  and  Lubbock  vs.  Houston 
and  Grimes  —  Candidates  for  Congress  —  Canvass  for  the  State  Ticket 
—  Reagan  and  Evans  Difficulty — Various  Incidents  —  Complete 
Democratic  Victory. 

The  Democratic  State  convention  of  1857  met  at  Waco  in  the 
Baptist  Church  on  May  14th.  There  were  ninety-three  counties 
represented  and  two  hundred  and  fifty-four  delegates  present. 

M.  D.  Eetor  was  called  to  the  chair. 

Adolphus  G.  Weir  was  elected  president  of  the  convention, 
and  M.  D.  Ector,  S.  Holland,  Sam  Bogart,  and  J.  W.  Dancy  vice 
presidents. 

A.  B.  Burleson  and  Thos.  P.  Ochiltree  were  appointed  ser- 
geants-at-arms,  and  R.  T.  Brownrigg,  R.  W.  Raine,  and  H.  P. 
Patrick  secretaries. 

At  request  of  the  convention,  F.  R.  Lubbock  assisted  the  sec- 
retaries, and  W.  F.  Weeks  acted  as  reporter.  On  request,  Hon. 
Louis  T.  Wigfall,  of  Harrison,  made  a  speech  on  "State  Rights 
and  the  Strict  Construction  of  the  Constitution."  It  was  quite 
able  and  it  was  loudly  applauded. 

Nat  Terry,  of  Tarrant,  offered  a  resolution  pledging  the  dele- 
gates to  support  the  nominees  with  zeal.  After  various  amend- 
ments to  the  same,  and  Chilton  and  myself  had  made  warm 
speeches  in  its  support,  some  conciliatory  remarks  were  made  by 
T.  N.  Waul  and  L.  T.  Wigfall,  and  Geo.  W.  Paschal  offered  this 
substitute :  "Resolved,  that  this  convention  will  support  no  per- 
son as  a  nominee  for  any  office  or  place  of  trust  unless  fully  satis- 
fied by  his  acts  and  declarations,  or  the  assurance  of  his  friends 
to  the  convention,  that  he  is  fully  united  with  the  Democratic 
party  upon  all  the  issues  now  existing  between  them  and  their 
opponents,  and  that  such  nominee  will  abide  the  decision  of  this 
convention  and  support  all  the  nominees  with  zeal  and  fer- 
vency." This  was  adopted  without  opposition  on  the  approval  of 
the  platform  committee.  This  was  but  a  reiteration  of  my  reso- 
lution of  1856. 

The  plat  f oral  committee,  consisting  of  Ashbel  Smith,  A.  J. 
14 


210  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Hamilton,  J.  B.  Robertson,  T.  N.  Waul,  W.  B.  Ochiltree,  L.  T. 
Wigfall,  J.  A.  Wharton,  G.  W.  Chilton,  Nat  Terry,  C.  Upson, 
and  B.  Burleson,  reported,  favoring  the  adoption  of  the  Cincin- 
nati platform  and  the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  resolutions  of 
1798-99  on  national  issues,  without  defining  a  State  policy  at 
home. 

An  effort  was  made  to  offer  a  State  platform  with  a  banking 
clause  to  be  submitted  as  a  constitutional  amendment  to  the  peo- 
ple, but  it  was  tabled. 

There  was  some  fun  in  nominating  the  Commissioner  of  the 
General  Land  Office.  The  convention  was  really  anxious  to 
nominate  Capt.  Stephen  Crosby,  the  incumbent  of  the  office,  and 
without  doubt  one  of  the  most  popular  officers  and  men  in  the 
State.  He,  however,  had  strayed  off  from  the  Democratic  party 
and  joined  the  Know-Nothings.  The  convention  was  well  aware 
that  if  he  was  not  their  nominee  he  would  run  on  the  Houston 
ticket,  adding  to  that  ticket  great  strength.  He  was  put  in  nomi- 
nation by  Dr.  J.  M.  Steiner,  a  good  and  true  Democrat.  He  too 
had  been  one  of  the  estrays.  Objection  was  made  to  the  nomi- 
nation unless  some  one  was  authorized  by  Captain  Crosby  to  put 
him  before  the  convention  and  pledge  him  to  the  action  of  the 
convention.  Delegate  after  delegate  addressed  the  chair,  explain- 
ing how  he  was  led  into  the  Know-Nothing  party.  Finally,  Dr. 
Steiner,  having  paid  close  attention  to  the  various  reasons  as- 
signed, addressed  the  chair:  "Mr.  Chairman,  I  was  a  Know- 
Nothing.  I  have  examined  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
and  the  statutes  at  large  of  the  United  States;  I  have  carefully 
read  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Texas  and  the  laws  of 
Texas,  and  nowhere  do  I  find  that  a  man  is  punished  for  being  a 
d — n  fool."  No  one  ventured  further  to  assign  reasons. 

So  Crosby  was  shelved  by  the  operation  of  my  rule,  and  he 
continued  with  the  independents,  as  was  expected. 

There  was  no  trouble  in  putting  out  a  straight  Democratic 
ticket. 

H.  R.  Runnels,  of  Bowie,  M.  T.  Johnson,  of  Tarrant,  Geo.  W. 
Smyth,  of  Jasper,  and  A.  M.  Lewis,  of  Washington,  entered  the 
lists  for  Governor.  On  the  first  ballot  Mr.  Runnels  led  with 
64  votes  out  of  1-13  in  all.  The  name  of  Mr.  Smyth  was  with- 
drawn previous  to  the  seventh  ballot.  After  the  seventh  ballot 


MEMOIRS.  211 


the  names  01  Johnson  and  Lewis  were  withdrawn,  and  H.  R. 
Runnels  was  unanimously  declared  the  nominee  of  the  conven- 
tion for  Governor. 

For  Lieutenant-Go vernor,  F.  R.  Lubbock,  of  Harris,  and  F.  M. 
White,  of  Jackson,  were  put  in  nomination.  On  the  first  ballot 
F.  R.  Lubbock  received  88  votes  and  F.  M.  White  47 ;  whereupon 
White's  name  was  withdrawn  and  Lubbock  was  nominated  by 
acclamation.  The  result  did  not  surprise  me,  as  I  had  good  back- 
ing at  home  and  abroad.22 

Francis  M.  White  was  nominated  for  Commissioner  of  the 
Land  Office  over  Giraud,  of  Bexar,  and  Dr.  Ross,  of  Rusk. 

C.  R.  Johns  received  the  nomination  for  Comptroller,  and 
C.  H.  Randolph  that  for  Treasurer. 

Mr.  Runnels  was  a  man  of  fine  abilities,  though  no  orator,  and 
was  not  without  considerable  political  experience.  Coming  from 
Mississippi  to  the  Republic  in  1841,  he  engaged  at  once  in  cotton 
planting  on  Red  River.  Subsequently  entering  public  life,  he 
represented  his  county  (Bowie)  four  terms  in  the  Legislature, 
and  became  Speaker  of  the  House  in  the  Pease  administration, 
fulfilling  its  duties  quite  creditably.  He  was  of  medium  size, 
probably  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height,  florid  complexion,  with 
light  hair  and  gray  eyes. 

The  only  objection  to  Runnels  was  his  apparent  unfriendliness 
to  railroads.23 

2  2  From  minutes  of  the  Harris  County  convention,  February  21,  1857: 
"Resolved,  that  the  suggestion  of  the  name  of  our  fellow-countryman, 
Francis  R.  Lubbock,  for  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Governor.  coming  as  it 
does  from  various  parts  of  the  State,  is  a  well-merited  compliment  to 
an  honest  and  able  Democrat,  who  is  and  ever  has  been  true  and  relia- 
ble, and  that  said  suggestion  meets  our  warm  and  cordial  approbation, 
and  should  he  receive  the  nomination  it  will  be  ratified  at  the  polls  by 
the  cordial  support  of  the  Democrats  of  Harris." 

The  Harrison  Flag  having  announced  that  the  name  of  Hon.  F.  R. 
Lubbock  would  probably  be  presented  to  the  Waco  convention  for  the 
office  of  Lieutenant-Governor,  closed  a  sketch  of  his  life  with  this 
compliment:  "Lubbock  has  been  throughout  a  consistent,  zealous,  and 
unfaltering  Democrat,  a  man  of  fine  business  qualities  and  intelligence, 
and  universally  popular  with  those  who  know  him." — ED. 

23  To  illustrate  this  opinion,  the  editor  quotes  this  extract  from  the 
Intelligencer  of  May  13th:  "Whatever  may  have  been  heretofore  want- 
ing in  the  zealous  advocacy  of  the  only  feasible  means  of  building  rail- 


212  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  congressional  convention  for  the  Western  district  met  at 
Waco  immediately  on  the  adjournment  of  the  State  convention. 
The  Hon.  Guy  M.  Bryan  was  nominated  as  the  Democratic  can- 
didate for  Congress  over  Ham.  P.  Bee,  M.  M.  Potter,  and  A.  P. 
Wiley. 

Of  the  nominee,  the  Intelligencer  (newspaper)  editorially 
said :  "Colonel  Bryan  .  .  .  has  grown  up  with  the  coun- 
try's growth  and  strengthened  with  its  strength.  He  has  served 
his  representative  and  senatorial  districts  in  both  branches  of  our 
State  Legislature  with  honor.  He  has  never  been  a  violent  par- 
tisan, but  is  a  decided  Democrat." 

Colonel  Bryan,  the  nephew  of  Stephen  F.  Austin  and  the 
worthy  successor  of  ex-Governor  Bell  in  Congress,  was  born  in 
Missouri  in  1821,  came  to  Texas  in  1831,  graduated  at  Kenyon 
College,  Ohio,  the  classmate  of  R.  B.  Hayes  (afterward  President 
of  the  United  States),  was  a  Pierce  and  King  elector  for  the 
State  at  large  in  1852  and  delegate  to  the  National  Democratic 
convention  at  Cincinnati  in  1856. 

The  convention  for  the  Eastern  district  met  at  Tyler  on  May 
13,  1857.  General  Taylor,  of  Cherokee,  was  the  chairman,  and 
Thos.  P.  Ochiltree,  G.  W.  Chilton,  and  Judge  Cantley,  secre- 
taries. Judge  Jno.  H.  Reagan,24  after  a  sharp  contest,  was  nomi- 

roads,  by  the  chosen  candidate  for  Governor  is  fully  made  up  by  the 
uniform  and  fervently  zealous  advocacy  of  these  measures  by  the  can- 
didate for  Lieutenant-Governor,  F.  R.  Lubbock.  This  gentleman,  from 
his  local  position,  reflects  the  railroad  spirit  of  the  State.  His  earnest 
eloquence  and  great  firmness  will  make  him  a  successful  advocate  upon 
the  stump.  As  president  of  the  Senate  he  would  have  a  casting  vote, 
and  like  Dickson,  he  will  use  it  on  the  side  of  progress.  His  more  im- 
mediate connection  with  the  Legislature  will  give  him  much  influence. 
But  why  say  more?  His  new  relation  satisfies  everybody  and ,  makes 
his  accomplished  opponent,  Frank  White,  the  happiest  fellow  in  the 
world." 

**. Judge  Reagan  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1818;  came  to  Texas  in 
1839;  first  engaged  in  surveying,  then  represented  his  district  accepta- 
bly in  the  State  Legislature,  and  afterwards  became  district  judge. 
After  two  terms  in  the  United  States  Congress,  became  Confederate 
Postmaster-General,  then  member  of  United  States  Congress,  United 
States  Senator,  and  finally  chairman  of  the  Texas  Railroad  Commission. 
Judge  Reagan  has.  together  with  his  national  reputation,  long  enjoyed 
a  pre-eminence  among  the  statesmen  of  Texas. 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  213 


nated.  beating  Malcolm  D.  Graham,  -  -  Lane,  Pendleton  Mur- 
rah,  and  Geo.  W.  Smyth.  Before  the  balloting,  the  two-thirds 
rule  was  adopted,  but  after  twenty  or  more  ineffectual  ballots,  on 
motion  of  Judge  Brooks,  of  San  Augustine,  the  majority  rule 
was  restored,  and  the  nomination  was  made  on  the  next  ballot. 
Judge  Reagan,  when  notified  of  his  nomination,  was  holding 
court  at  Kaufman,  where  he  wrote  his  letter  of  acceptance  to  the 
committee,  J.  I.  Burton,  M.  D.  Ector,  Wm.  M.  Taylor,  and  Jno. 
M.  Crockett.  Resigning  his  judicial  office,  Judge  Reagan  en- 
tered at  once  upon  the  canvass,  beginning  with  a  speech  in  his 
home  county,  at  Palestine,  early  in  June. 

The  Travis  County  Democratic  convention  met  at  Austin  two 
days  after  the  State  convention  to  ratify  the  nominations  of  the 
Waco  convention  and  to  elect  delegates  to  the  judicial  convention 
at  Lockhart  and  delegates  to  the  floatorial  convention  at  Bastrop. 

S.  G.  Sneed  was  the  president,  and  John  Marshall,  A.  G.  Weir, 
and  J.  C.  Tannehill  vice-presidents,  and  P.  DeCordova  and  Wil- 
liam D.  Patten  secretaries. 

Geo.  W.  Paschal  moved  that  the  convention  ratify  all  the 
nominations  and  the  platform  adopted  by  the  State  convention 
at  Waco,  and  that  all  those  taking  part  in  the  convention  pledge 
themselves  to  support  the  candidates  with  fervency  and  zeal ;  and 
the  motion  carried. 

From  the  earnestness  with  which  Mr.  Paschal  pushed  my  test 
resolution  through  various  conventions,  I  had  great  confidence  in 
his  Democracy  at  the  time. 

"Old  Sam  in  the  Field !"  Under  this  head,  two  days  before 
the  Waco  convention,  was  announced  in  the  Huntsville  Recorder 
the  independent  candidacy  of  General  Houston  for  Governor. 
The  Know-Xothing  party  having  been  killed  off  the  previous 
year,  the  general  now  claimed  to  be  a  Jackson  Democrat  and  that 
he  had  always  been  one,  as  if  it  had  been  possible  that  a  Jackson 
Democrat  could  advocate  Know-Nothingism  as  he  had  but  re- 
cently done.  Houston  had  a  wonderful  knack  at  explanation,  but 
it  was  hard  to  see  how  he  could  explain  his  late  political  change 
of  front. 

The  convention  at  Waco  had  been  most  harmonious,  and  when 
separating,  every  delegate  realized  that  there  would  be  work  to 


214  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


do,  as  General  Houston  and  his  friends  would  make  herculean 
efforts  to  beat  the  ticket  nominated. 

It  was  well  understood  that  our  nominee  for  Governor  would 
not  attempt  a  thorough  canvass.  He  might  visit  some  localities 
in  a  quiet  way,  but  he  would  not  make  speeches.  Although  he 
had  been  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  and  was  then 
Lieutenant-Governor,  and  recognized  as  an  able  legislator  and 
intelligent  man,  he  was  not  a  popular  speaker. 

My  friends  expected  me  to  make  a  thorough  canvass,  and  I 
promised  to  do  the  best  I  could  for  our  ticket. 

In  a  very  few  days  after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  my 
arrangements  were  made,  and  I  resigned  the  office  of  district 
clerk  of  Harris  County.  My  wife  and  I  left  our  ranch,  riding 
in  a  light  Rockaway  drawn  by  a  pair  of  horses.  A  negro  boy  on 
horseback  went  along  to  care  for  our  team. 

My  first  speech  was  made  at  Lynchburg,  in  Harris  County; 
second  and  third  in  Liberty  County,  low  down  on  the  Trinity 
River.  We  had  no  railroads  or  telegraph  lines,  so  that  the  ap- 
pointments had  to  be  sent  forward  by  mail.  From  day  to  day 
we  jogged  along,  stopping  at  the  county  towns,  generally  about 
thirty  miles  apart,  the  roads  at  times  being  very  rough  and  in 
wet  weather  very  boggy,  and  in  places  at  times  almost  im- 
passable The  speaking  in  a  general  way  was  made  immediately 
after  a  noon  dinner.  It  then,  in  most  instances,  required  us  to 
leave  the  town  and  travel  that  afternoon  from  ten  to  twenty 
miles  according  to  circumstances,  so  as  to  be  on  hand  the  next 
day  in  time  to  speak  again  at  noon. 

Nothing  of  much  interest  occurred  until  we  reached  Sumpter, 
Trinity  County.  It  was  then  a  small,  unpretentious  county  seat. 
Riding  up  to  the  hotel  we  asked  for  a  room,  which  was  supplied. 
Upon  inquiry  of  the  landlord,  he  informed  me  that  he  had  not 
learned  that  I  was  to  speak  there,  and  knew  nothing  of  it.  With- 
out taking  time  to  wash  my  hands  or  brush  the  dust  from  my 
clothing,  I  hastened  down  to  the  public  square.  I  was  a  perfect 
stranger  to  the  place  and  people.  In  passing  along  the  main 
thoroughfare  I  noticed  quite  a  number  of  persons  in  front  of  a 
building.  I  crossed  over  the  street  and  walked  up  to  the  crowd. 
In  a  moment  I  took  in  the  situation  and  felt  satisfied  there  would 
be  no  offense  taken,  and  so  I  remarked :  "I  am  from  a  long  and 


LUBBOCK^S  MEMOIRS.  215 


dusty  travel,  am  tired,  and  feel  like  taking  a  drink.  Walk  in, 
gentlemen,  and  join  me."  The  entire  party  walked  in.  After 
refreshing  ourselves,  I  said :  "I  have  come  to  make  a  speech.  I 
am  F.  R.  Lubbock,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Lieutenant- 
Governor."  They  responded  by  saying,  "We  understand  that, 
and  have  come  in  from  the  country  to  hear  you."  "Well,"  said  I, 
"the  landlord  told  me  that  he  had  heard  nothing  of  it;  that  he 
did  not  know  anything  of  any  Democratic  speaking  to  take 
place."  "No."  they  said,  "of  course  he  knew  nothing,  for  he  is  a 
mean  old  Know-Nothing,  and  would  not  have  told  you  even  had 
he  known." 

I  excused  myself  and  started  for  the  hotel,  flattering  myself 
that  I  was  to  have  it  all  my  own  way.  Being  somewhat  of  a 
novice  in  political  speaking,  I  was  not  particularly  desirous  of 
encountering  any  of  the  big  guns  of  the  opposition.  Before  pro- 
ceeding many  yards,  however,  I  met  one  of  their  best  men,  a  par- 
ticular friend  of  mine,  Col.  A.  T.  Branch,  then  the  district  attor- 
ney of  that  district,  and  subsequently  a  member  of  the  Confeder- 
ate Congress.  He  informed  me  that  he  was  there  by  request  to 
canvass  a  few  counties  with  me  in  the  interest  of  General  Hous- 
ton. We  at  once  arranged  for  the  speaking  after  dinner,  he  to 
make  the  opening  speech,  I  to  reply,  he  to  rejoin,  and  I  to  close. 
He  took  the  stand  at  the  appointed  time.  He  was  a  good,  forcible, 
pleasant  speaker,  and  quite  well  posted.  It  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  the  people  of  Texas  were  then  as  now  overwhelmingly 
Democratic,  so  that  the  opposition  to  the  Democratic  nominees 
would  take  the  ground  that  they  were  as  good  Democrats  as  the 
regular  convention  Democrats ;  that,  however,  they  were  not  col- 
lar Democrats,  and  so  they  claimed  the  right  to  be  independent, 
to  vote  as  they  pleased,  and  that  in  supporting  the  independent 
ticket,  with  Sam  Houston  at  its  head,  they  were  entitled  to 
Democratic  votes,  and  they  should  not  be  held  responsible  because 
the  old  Whigs,  Know-Nothings,  and  others  voted  their  ticket, 
looking  to  reforming  and  checking  the  abuses  of  the  Democratic 
party.  It  was  not  surprising  to  me  that  my  friend  Branch,  know- 
ing that  his  audience  was  largely  Democratic,  should  make  an 
orthodox  Democratic  speech ;  hence  I  attempted  to  show  in  my 
reply  that,  while  he  laid  down  very  good  Democratic  doctrine  and 
gave  very  good  advice  to  the  Democracy,  he  was  not  the  proper 


218  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


party  from  whom  we  were  to  receive  instruction,  and  1  proceeded 
at  once  to  attack  his  political  record  by  charging  that  he  was  a 
Whig  in  Virginia ;  that  upon  his  advent  into  Texas  he  subscribed 
funds  for  the  purchase  of  powder  to  celebrate  the  victory  of  Gen- 
eral Taylor,  the  Whig  candidate  for  the  presidency,  over  our 
Democratic  candidate,  General  Cass;  that  he  had  voted  against 
the  Democratic  party  whenever  an  opportunity  presented;  and 
finally,  that  he  had  drifted  into  the  Know-Nothing  party,  and 
hence  could  not  be  relied  upon  to  teach  what  was  for  the  good  of 
the  Democratic  party.  He  was  paralyzed  by  my  reply,  for  he 
could  see  that  those  people  rejected  him  as  a  teacher.  After  the 
speaking  we  talked  over  matters  in  a  friendly  way.  Branch  said 
I  was  unfair  in  treating  of  his  former  political  record;  that  I 
should  have  relied  upon  political  principles.  I  replied  by  saying: 
"Branch,  you  are  a  fine  lawyer  and  an  able  debater.  I  deemed  it 
entirely  legitimate  for  me  to  break  the  force  of  your  arguments 
by  showing  if  I  could  that  you  were  not  a  safe  counsellor  for  the 
Democrats — that  you  were  a  Democrat  to  make  capital  for  the 
Know-Xothings — and  that  was  the  most  effective  method  for  me 
to  block  your  way." 

We  next  went  traveling  in  company  to  Crockett,  Houston 
County,  one  of  the  counties  in  his  judicial  district.  Very  much 
the  same  program  was  carried  out  there,  and  the  same  line  of 
speaking.  After  the  speaking  was  over,  Branch  said  to  me:  "I 
am  tired  of  this  canvassing;  I  am  doing  no  good;  my  business  is 
suffering,  and  so  good-bye.  I  will  go  home." 

I  am  reminded  of  an  occurrence  at  Woodvillc,  Tyler  County, 
which  was  quite  encouraging  to  me.  During  my  speech  a  good- 
looking  man  walked  up  to  the  stand  and  said :  "I  want  to  tell 
you  that  I  have  been  voting  against  the  Democrats  all  my  life. 
From  this  day  on  I  am  with  you.  Your  speech  has  convinced  me 
that  I  have  been  on  the  wrong  side." 

After  visiting  several  counties,  speaking  daily,  I  reached 
Nacogdoehes.  the  old  home  of  Gen.  Sam  Houston,  where  he  had 
many  lifelong  friends  and  earnest  supporters.  I  dreaded  the 
ordeal  here.  Some  of  my  warm  friends  and  supporters  were 
also  supporting  General  Houston,  and  while  through  the  entire 
canvass  I  ever  spoke  respectfully  and  kindly  of  him,  just  as  I 
felt,  I  was  of  course  compelled  to  show  why  Democrats  could  not 


LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS.  217 


consistently  vote  for  him.  Maj.  E.  W.  Cave,  then  a  very  young 
man,  an  editor  of  a  paper  published  at  Nacogdoches,  and  after- 
wards Governor  Houston's  Secretary  of  State,  replied  to  me,  and 
for  one  so  young  in  politics  he  proved  himself  a  very  able  debater. 
I  found  him  a  foeman  well  worthy  of  my  steel,  and  he  kept  me 
well  exercised.  He  has  since  made  quite  a  reputation,  not  only 
as  an  excellent  business  man  but  as  a  most  accomplished  speaker. 

My  next  appointment  was  at  Mount  Enterprise,  Rusk  County. 
I  was  exceedingly  anxious  to  reach  this  point  in  time.  There  was 
considerable  opposition  to  our  ticket,  and  a  large  Know-jSTothing 
element  at  that  box.  The  day  before  Mrs.  Lubbock  was  taken 
quite  ill.  Dr.  Starr,  at  whose  home  we  dined,  a  very  dear  and 
good  friend  of  ours,  had  given  Mrs.  L.  medicine,  and  decided 
that  she  could  not  continue  the  travel  that  day.  There  was  no 
alternative  but  to  submit  and  fail  to  keep  the  Mount  Enterprise 
appointment.  There  was  no  way  to  send  notice,  so  that  I  retired 
at  night  bowing  to  the  circumstances.  About  midnight  my  wife, 
after  having  a  refreshing  sleep,  called  to  me,  saying:  "I  feel 
very  much  better.  I  know  how  it  will  put  you  out  to  miss  your 
appointment  to-morrow,  so  we  had  better  try  to  make  it."  I  told 
her  it  would  be  impossible  to  fill  it  unless  we  started  as  soon  as  it 
was  light;  that  it  was  thirty  miles  over  a  very  rough,  wooded 
road,  and  I  feared  she  was  not  well  enough  to  attempt  the  trip. 
She  insisted  that  she  was  equal  to  it  and  that  we  must  go.  I  im- 
mediately called  our  boy  Washington,  and  told  him  to  give  the 
horses  more  feed  and  have  them  harnessed  and  ready,  as  we 
would  leave  as  soon  as  we  could  see  our  way  out  of  the  town.  We 
were  up  and  left  promptly.  The  road  was  sandy  and  full  of  shin- 
oak  roots,  and  we  had  a  rough  ride.  With  all  my  pushing  it  was 
4  o'clock  p.  m.  when  I  arrived.  Others  had  spoken,  and  some  of 
those  living  at  a  distance  were  leaving  the  courthouse  as  I  en- 
tered. I  took  the  stand  at  once  and  made  my  speech,  just  saving 
my  appointment,  which  enabled  me  to  meet  the  next  one,  and  so 
on.  Mrs.  Lubbock  was  not  sick  again,  and  I  did  not  fail  in  an 
appointment  from  May  until  the  end  of  the  canvass,  in  August. 
I  had  in  truth  and  in  fact  a  helpmeet ;  God  bless  her  ! 

It  was  in  this  canvass  that  I  became  quite  intimate  with  the 
Hon.  John  H.  Reagan  and  learned  to  admire  his  ability  and  to 
appreciate  his  sterling  worth  and  integrity.  He  was  canvassing 


218  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


his  district  for  Congress  in  company  with  his  opponent,  the  Hon. 
Lemuel  D.  Evans,  the  then  member.  I  joined  them  and  can- 
vassed many  of  the  counties  in  their  district.  This  was  a  great 
advantage  to  me,  for  they  were  experienced  in  canvassing  and 
were  men  of  ability.  I  learned  much  of  Federal  politics  from 
them,  as  well  as  State  issues.  It  also  gave  me  an  opportunity  of 
meeting  many  more  people — for  great  interest  was  taken  in  their 
canvass.  Judge  Evans  represented  the  Know-Nothing  party, 
claiming  to  be  a  Democrat,  and  was  fighting  against  the  Demo- 
cratic ticket  and  supporting  the  Houston  or  independent  ticket. 
Judge  Reagan  was  running  as  a  straight  Democrat  and  support- 
ing the  nominees  of  the  Waco  convention ;  consequently  I  was  of 
course  opposing  Judge  Evans.  He  endeavored  in  all  of  his. 
speeches  to  make  it  appear,  and  so  charged,  that  Reagan  and 
Runnels,  the  democratic  candidate  for  Governor,  and  their  party 
favored  all  extreme  measures  and  were  really  in  favor  of  opening 
up  the  African  slave  trade.  He  was  so  persistent  in  charging 
that  we  were  in  favor  of  disunion  and  the  slave  trade  that  it  be- 
came quite  an  annoyance.  It  was  known  that  Evans  at  the  time 
favored  a  call  for  a  Southern  convention  and  was  quite  extreme 
in  his  views  as  to  all  Southern  questions,  and  had  written  a  letter 
in  which  he  urged  the  calling  of  such  a  convention  and  solicited 
from  the  Legislature  an  appointment  as  a  delegate.  While  we 
were  at  Marshall  it  was  ascertained  that  Maj.  J.  M.  Clough  had 
such  a  letter,  received  by  him  while  he  was  a  member  of  the  Leg- 
islature. A  committee  of  gentlemen  waited  upon  the  major  and 
explained  the  necessity  of  using  that  letter  to  show  Judge  Evans* 
former  position  and  present  inconsistency.  The  major  said  it 
was  a  personal  letter,  and  he  doubted  the  propriety  of  giving  it 
publicity.  Our  friends  contended  that  it  was  a  great  public  con- 
cern ;  that  he,  Evans,  was  making  war  against  our  side  and  at- 
tempting to  fasten  upon  us  what  he  had  himself  urged,  and  we 
must  break  the  force  of  his  assertions  or  perhaps  be  misrepre- 
sented by  him  in  Congress.  The  major  yielded  and  placed  the 
letter  in  the  possession  of  Judge  Reagan. 

A  few  days  subsequently  Judge  Evans,  at  Jefferson,  went 
through  his  usual  tirade,  charging  Reagan  and  the  Democratic 
party  with  the  hatching  of  the  Southern  convention  and  being 
the  satellites  of  Wigfall  and  others  favoring  the  slave  trade  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  219 


cherishing  a  determination  to  dissolve  the  Union.  Reagan,  in 
replying,  took  the  Clough  letter  from  his  pocket  and  read  it. 
Evans  sat  absorbed,  and  for  a  long  while  did  not  notice  that 
Reagan  was  reading  his  (Evans')  production.  When  nearing  the 
close,  however,  he  seemed  to  realize  that  it  was  his  convention 
letter,  and  upon  Reagan's  conclusion,  when  he  asked  the  people, 
"Who  do  you  suppose,  fellow-citizens,  wrote  that  letter?"  and 
turning  upon  Evans  said,  "As  Nathan  said  unto  David,  'thou  art 
the  man,'  "25  Evans  arose  to  his  feet,  pulled  out  his  six-shooter, 
and  denounced  Clough  for  giving  up  a  private  letter  and  Reagan 
for  using  it.  Reagan  also  had  his  six-shooter  out  and  replied  to 
Evans'  remarks  by  saying :  "Judge  Evans,  let's  put  up  our  six- 
shooters;  I  do  not  wish  to  kill  you,  and  I  do  not  intend  to  be 
killed.  I  want  to  go  to  Congress,  and  I  am  going  there."  You 
can  imagine  the  excitement  all  this  created  in  the  audience,  for 
it  was  large.  Some  one  was  struck  on  the  outside  of  the  crowd, 
and  it  seemed  a  general  row  would  take  place.  I  addressed  the 
people,  I  supposed  in  a  conservative  manner,  endeavoring  to  quell 
the  tumult,  and  thought  I  was  a  genuine  peacemaker ;  at  any  rate 
the  multitude  dispersed  and  there  was  no  bloodshed. 

Next  morning  the  Know-Nothing  paper  came  out,  gave  an  ac- 
count of  the  speaking,  and  stated :  "We  had  intended  comment- 
ing upon  the  speech  of  F.  R.  Lubbock,  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  Lieutenant-Governor;  but  he  is  a  mountebank,  and  his  con- 

25  This  was  Judge  Reagan's  version  of  this  affair  to  the  editor  in 
1898:  "While  I  was  speaking  on  the  stand  at  Jefferson  a  young  man 
handed  me  a  letter,  saying  that  it  was  sent  by  Mrs.  Clough  for  my 
use.  I  took  and  saw  it  was  the  letter  from  Evans  to  Clouge.  After 
reading  it  carefully,  I  waited  till  Evans  finished  his  usual  tirade  against 
the  secessionists  and  nullifiers;  and,  rising1  with  the  letter  in  my  hand, 
I  told  the  audience  that  for  the  sake  of  argument,  I  would  admit  that 
Henderson,  Wigfall  and  Mills  were  secessionists,  nulliflers,  firebrands, 
etc.,  and  that  I  wished  to  read  them  a  letter  on  the  subject  of  the  Nash- 
ville Convention  where  these  men  had  acted  so  badly.  From  the  read- 
ing of  the  letter  to  the  people,  it  appeared  plainly  that  the  writer 
expressed  a  wish  to  go  to  the  Nashville  Convention  himself  as  a  dele- 
gate, whether  by  appointment  or  otherwise,  and  that,  too,  in  company 
with  secessionists,  disunionists,  nullifiers,  firebrands  and  agitators. 
"Now  who  was  the  writer  of  this  letter?"  said  I;  and  turning  to  Evans 
I  pointed  to  him  saying,  "As  the  prophet  Nathan  said  to  King  David, 
'Thou  art  the  man.'  "  Whereupon  Evans  drews  his  pistol,  etc. 


220  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


duct  was  so  outrageous  that  we  will  not  give  him  further  notice." 
This  of  course  left  me  in  a  very  unenviable  light,  conveying  as  it 
did  the  idea  that  I  had  acted  while  in  Jefferson  in  some  dis- 
reputable way ;  while  I  thought  my  behavior  was  most  excellent, 
and  had  really  been  somewhat  instrumental  in  keeping  down 
serious  trouble. 

The  editorial  in  question,  however,  proved  entirely  harmless, 
although  productive  of  some  amusement,  for  on  our  arrival  at 
Gilmer,  in  Upshur  County,  they  had  read  the  charge  to  mean 
that  I  was  a  montebank  dealer, — in  other  words,  a  gambler,  as 
this  Mexican  game  of  cards  meant.  This  gave  me  an  opportunity 
to  set  myself  right  as  a  moral  young  man  who  never  gambled  at 
any  game,  and  also  to  tell  the  story  of  my  first  and  last  game  of 
poker  for  money,  the  day  I  landed  in  Texas. 

The  canvass  now  continued  with  less  acrimony,  for  Judge 
Evans  had  to  eliminate  from  his  set  speech  the  Southern  conven- 
tion and  his  charges  against  Reagan  and  his  friends  as  extremists. 

A  laughable  affair  occurred  in  Collin  County.  We  had  made 
speeches  at  McKinney  and  left  there  for  Piano,  also  in  that 
county ;  Judge  Evans  tarried  on  the  way,  but  said  he  would  be 
with  us  at  Piano  to  supper.  Judge  Reagan  and  myself  arrived 
in  good  time ;  supper  was  served;  Judge  Evans  did  not  put  in  an 
appearance ;  bedtime  came,  and  still  he  was  absent.  We  of  course 
concluded  he  had  stopped  on  the  route  with  some  friend.  Next 
morning,  while  we  were  at  breakfast,  the  judge  appeared,  a  very 
fagged-looking  man.  His  explanation  was,  that  in  crossing  one 
of  the  deep  dry  creeks  or  ravines  between  McKinney  and  Piano, 
it  being  very  dark,  he  followed  the  ravine  instead  of  the  road, 
became  bewildered,  and  remained  out  all  night.  We  joked  him; 
said  it  was  a  bad  omen;  that  he  would  be  going  up  Salt  River 
very  soon.  And  such  was  the  case;  for  he  was  beaten  by  Judge 
Reagan. 

After  leaving  these  gentlemen  I  continued  my  canvass,  re- 
gretting, however,  to  part  with  them,  for  we  had  a  good,  jolly 
time,  and  Mrs.  Lubbock  enjoyed  traveling  in  pleasant  company. 
Many  incidents  happened  of  an  amusing  character,  and  a  few 
hairbreadth  escapes  from  upsetting  of  vehicles  and  other  mishaps 
caused  by  rough  roads,  crossing  streams,  and  stopping  at  rough 
places. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  221 


I  visited  during  my  canvass  about  one  hundred  counties,  con- 
tinued in  the  field  until  the  day  of  the  election  in  August,  made 
a  speech  every  day  except  Sunday,  and  never  was  sick  a  moment 
or  missed  an  appointment.  Judge  Grimes,  my  opponent,  did  not 
canvass;  he  was  on  the  Houston  ticket.  French  Smith  made  a 
few  speeches;  he  was  independent  of  all,  receiving  but  a  few 
votes. 

This  canvass  gave  to  me  my  very  extensive  acquaintance  in  the 
State,  so  that  I  found  my  second  canvass  light  and  pleasant  as 
in  contrast  with  the  first,  and  further  to  recompense  me  for  my 
unremitting  toil,  I  received  the  largest  vote  polled,  gaining  the 
hearty  indorsement  of  the  party.  In  the  midst  of  my  labors  in 
East  Texas,  I  received  from  the  chairman  of  the  State  Demo- 
cratic committee  the  following  letter,  and,  responding  to  his  sug- 
gestions, I  made  an  active  campaign  in  the  counties  referred  to. 

[Private.]  "STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE  BOOM. 

"AUSTIN,  TEXAS,  17th  July,  '57. 

''Frank  R.  Liibbock — DEAR  SIR:  It  is  urgently  demanded 
that  you  visit  Hill  and  such  other  counties  in  that  vicinity  as 
you  can  at  the  first  practicable  moment.  Matters  are  in  a  dis- 
tracted condition,  and  you  alone  can  heal  them.  The  demand 
for  you  is  solicitously  made,  and  I  do  hope  that  you  will  be  able 
to  comply  with  it. 

"Be  assured  that  your  course  in  the  east  has  been  regarded  with 
feelings  of  approval  and  delight  by  thousands  in  the  west,  and 
it  is  a  proud  achievement  for  you  to  say  that.  I  have  been  ap- 
plied to  by  Democrats  from  various  counties  above  to  request 
you  to  come  and  address  them.  The  word  is  always,  'Send 
Lubbock  by  all  means.' 

"Do  by  all  means  leave  Houston  County  and  go  up  to  Hill. 

"Yours  truly, 

"JOHN  MARSHALL/' 

The  Waco  ticket  was  elected  by  a  large  majority. 

For  Governor,  Runnels  received  32,552  votes,  and  Houston 
23,628 ;  for  Lieutenant-Governor,  Lubbock  received  33,399  votes, 
and  Jesse  Grimes  20,318. 

As  to  the  canvass  of  1857,  Houston  vs.  Democracy,  Runnels 


222  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


afterwards  said:  "The  news  of  the  action  at  Waco  had  scarce 
transpired  when  the  name  of  a  citizen  prominent  on  the  rolls  of 
his  country's  fame  was  announced  in  opposition,  and  a  canvass 
actually  begun,  the  most  remarkable  perhaps  in  the  annals  of 
political  warfare.  The  celerity  of  the  movement,  the  electric 
rapidity  with  which  its  intelligence  was  communicated,  and  the 
alacrity  with  which  it  was  indorsed  by  the  entire  opposition,  fur- 
nishes the  most  indubitable  proof  of  the  preconcerted  design  to 
distract  and  if  possible  to  destroy  the  identity  of  the  Democratic 
party.  Happily,  the  effort  failed." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  223 


CHAPTER  THIETEEN. 

The  7th  Legislature  —  Election  of  United  States  Senators — The  Inau- 
guration and  Addresses  of  Runnels  and  Lubbock — The  Message  — 
Establishment  of  the  University  of  Texas  —  Joint  Resolutions  — 
Frontier  Protection  —  Debates  and  Debaters  —Resolutions  in  Memo- 
riam  —  Stockdale  and  Bob  Taylor  Incident — State  Convention  of 
1858  — Democratic  Mourners'  Bench  and  Repentant  Sinners. 

The  Seventh  Legislature  convened  at  Austin,  Novtmber  2, 
1857. 

The  Senate  was  called  to  order  at  10  a.  m.  on  that  day  by  H. 
E.  Eunnels,  Lieutenant-Governor  and  ex  officio  president  of  the 
Senate. 

The  following  new  senators,  presenting  their  credentials,  were 
admitted  to  their  seats :  James  W.  Throckmorton,  A.  G.  Walker, 
Malcolm  D.  Graham,  E.  H.  Green,  T.  N.  Waul,  M.  M.  Potter, 
Geo.  B.  Erath,  E.  B.  Scarborough,  Forbes  Britton,  Isaiah  Pas- 
chal, C.  C.  Herbert,  and  A.  C.  Hyde. 

The  hold-over  senators  were :  James  M.  Burroughs,  John  Cald- 
well,  Jesse  Grimes,  Elisha  E.  Lott,  H.  E.  McCulloch,  W.  H. 
Martin,  S.  A.  Maverick,  S.  A.  Pirkey,  Jonathan  Eussell,  M.  D. 
K.  Taylor,  Eobert  H.  Taylor,  W.  M.  Taylor,  C.  C.  Shephard,  and 
L.  T.  Wigfall. 

Jas.  F.  Johnson  was  elected  secretary ;  E.  T.  Brownrigg,  assist- 
ant secretary;  Thos.  P.  Sanford,  assistant  secretary;  Stephen 
Gumming,  engrossing  clerk ;  J.  Pat  Henry,  enrolling  clerk ;  Wm. 

A.  Pitts,  sergeant-at-arms;  L.   M.   Truitt,  doorkeeper;  A.   M. 
Clare,  assistant  doorkeeper;  Edward  Fontaine,  chaplain. 

Organization  was  perfected  in  the  House  by  the  election  of  the 
following  officers: 

Gen.  Wm.  S.  Taylor,  speaker;  H.  H.  Haynie,  chief  clerk; 
Thos.  P.  Ochiltree,  assistant  clerk;  W.  L.  Chalmers,  assistant 
clerk;  Chas.  Coney,  engrossing  clerk;  Alf.  Davis,  enrolling  clerk; 

B.  F.  Parks,  sergeant-at-arms;  E.  E.  Eobertson,  assistant  ser- 
geant-at-arms; Thos.  Eogers,  doorkeeper;  T.  P.  Plasters,  assist- 
ant doorkeeper;  Eobert  Cotter,  messenger;  Judge  W.  F.  Weeks, 
reporter. 

One  of  the  most  notable  incidents  of  the  session  was  the  elec- 


224  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


tion  of  two  United  States  senators,  an  unusual  occurence,  caused 
by  the  death  of  Senator  Rusk  (before  the  end  of  his  term)  and 
the  expiration  of  Houston's  term.  Rusk  had  killed  himself  the 
previous  summer  at  Nacogdoches  in  a  fit  of  despondency,  caused, 
it  was  said,  by  domestic  troubles. 

Houston  was  a  candidate  for  re-election,  but  had  been  fighting 
the  Democratic  party  for  several  years,  and  was  therefore  thought 
not  to  be  a  suitable  man  to  represent  a  Democratic  State  like 
Texas. 

The  Democratic  caucus  before  going  into  this  election  num- 
bered twenty-two  senators  and  seventy-three  representatives. 
The  condition  of  admittance  was  the  indorsement  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati platform  of  1856. 

The  election  came  off  at  a  joint  session  of  the  Legislature  in 
the  hall  of  representatives  on  the  9th  of  November.  J.  Pinckney 
Henderson  had  a  walkover  as  the  successor  of  Rusk,  his  single 
opponent,  G.  W.  Smyth,  getting  only  three  votes. 

The  struggle  over  Houston's  seat  was  very  serious,  A.  J. 
Hamilton,  B.  C.  Franklin,  M.  M.  Potter,  E.  M.  Pease,  W.  S.  Old- 
ham,  W.  R.  Scurry,  Anson  Jones,  and  John  Hemphill  being  put 
forward  by  their  friends  as  rival  aspirants  for  the  position. 

The  race  was  mainly  between  Scurry  and  Hemphill.  After 
the  twenty-second  ballot  Wigfall  withdrew  Scurry's  name,  and 
Hemphill  received  the  caucus  nomination.  He  was  subsequently 
elected  without  opposition. 

I  was  present  as  an  onlooker  when  the  elections  occurred,  and 
in  rioting  the  unanimous  way  in  which  Houston  was  shelved 
in  this  contest,  a  feeling  of  sadness  came  over  me,  from  personal 
regard  for  the  man.  After  this,  it  could  not  be  said  that  any 
man's  personality  would  count  against  principles  with  the 
Democracy  in  Texas. 

The  inauguration  of  Governor  Runnels  and  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor  Lubbock  took  place  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives December  21,  1857.  The  hall  was  filled  by  11  a.  m.,  and  the 
Speaker,  Gen.  William  S.  Taylor,  in  his  seat,  with  the  president 
pro  tern,  of  the  Senate,  M.  D.  K.  Taylor,  at  his  right  hand,  and 
senators  occupying  seats  provided  for  them.  The  Governor  and 
Lieutenant-Governor  were  announced  at  the  door.  "The  whole 
audience,"  says  T.  P.  0.,  Texas  Republican  correspondent,  "with 


LUBBOCK' S  MEMOIRS.  225 


one  accord  arose  on  the  entrance  of  the  distinguished  ex-Gov- 
ernor and  the  Governor-elect  with  their  suites.  First  came  ex- 
Governor  Pease,  with  the  Governor-elect,  Hon.  H.  R.  Runnels, 
on  his  right;  then  the  Lieutenant-Governor-elect,  Hon.  F.  R. 
Lubbock,  with  Chief  Justice  Hemphill  and  Judges  Wheeler  and 
Roberts,  followed  by  the  inaugural  committee.  Ex-Governor 
Pease  and  Governor  Runnels  were  seated  on  the  left  of  the 
Speaker,  while  the  Lieutenant-Governor  and  president  pro  tern, 
of  the  Senate  sat  on  his  right,  and  the  Chief  Justice  and  two  asso- 
ciates on  the  platform  in  front  of  the  speaker's  chair.  .  .  . 
The  ladies  were  to  be  seen  in  every  direction.  .  .  .  Governor 
Pease  made  truly  an  admirable  valedictory  address,  .  .  . 
and  paid  a  well-merited  compliment  to  the  Governor-elect. 
.  .  .  He  was  listened  to  with  marked  attention,  and  loudly 
cheered  in  conclusion." 

The  Telegraph  had  this  to  say  of  the  addresses  of  Governor 
Runnels  and  myself :  "Governor  Runnels  ascended  the  stand  and 
made  one  of  the  finest  addresses  I  have  ever  heard,  the  whole 
chaste,  elegant,  and  refined.  .  .  .  On  conclusion  of  the  in- 
augural address  there  went  up  from  that  vast  audience  such  a 
cheering  as  only  a  free  people  can  appreciate.  . 

"Lieutenant-Governor  Lubbock  then,  in  a  short  but  eloquent 
speech,  followed  Governor  Runnels — his  voice  loud,  clear,  and 
distinct,  his  every  feature  apparently  expressing  his  words  and 
thought.  He  also  was  loudly  cheered,  and  well  Frank  deserves 
it,  for  if  ever  a  public  servant  deserved  office  from  his  fellow 
citizens,  if  ever,  by  a  strict  adherence  to  principle  and  honesty, 
any  man  deserved  the  high  position  assigned  him,  it  is  Frank 
Lubbock."  , 

On  assuming  the  chair  as  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate,  I  said : 
"Senators :  I  enter  upon  my  duties  as  presiding  officer  of  the 
Senate  with  the  consciousness  of  a  want  of  experience  in  legisla- 
tive proceedings,  yet  determined  to  devote  whatever  of  capacity  I 
may  possess  to  their  faithful  and  impartial  discharge.  The  want 
of  parliamentary  knowledge  upon  my  part  will  be  the  more  im- 
portant from  the  fact  that  this  honorable  body  has  invariably 
been  presided  over  by  gentlemen  of  large  experience  and 
acknowledged  ability.  I  am  pleased  to  know  that  a  majority  of 
those  over  whom  I  am  called  to  preside  have  served  long  and  well 
15 


226  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


in  public  life  and  understand  fully  parliamentary  law  and  the 
rules  of  this  body.  To  those  I  will  look  for  aid  and  support  in 
the  proper  discharge  of  my  official  duties.  If  honorable  senators 
will  give  that  assistance,  which  I  have  every  reason  to  believe 
they  will,  I  trust  we  shall  be  able  to  perform  our  labors  faith- 
fully, pleasantly,  and  for  the  advancement  of  the  public  good." 

In  his  inaugural  address,  the  Governor  had  to  notice  the  over- 
shadowing question  of  the  day,  that  of  Northern  supremacy  and 
what  it  meant  for  Texas  and  the  South  generally. 

It  was  clear  that  the  North  would  soon  dominate  the  Union, 
and  it  seemed  equally  clear  that,  from  Northern  hostility  to 
slavery,  we  could  have  no  peace  in  the  Union. 

As  to  the  evil  and  the  remedy,  Governor  Eunnels,  among  other 
things,  said:  "Year  by  year  the  South  is  becoming  weaker,  the 
North  growing  stronger.  That  equilibrium  has  been  destroyed 
which  afforded  the  only  sure  and  permanent  guarantee  of  protec- 
tion against  abolition  innovation.  .  .  .  Should  this  proposi- 
tion be  decided  in  the  negative,  I  do  not  hesitate  to  believe  that 
the  determination  of  Texas  will  be  taken  to  assume  the  guardian- 
ship of  her  own  destinies  and  bid  adieu  to  a  connection  no  longer 
consistent  with  the  rights,  dignity,  and  honor  of  an  equal  and 
independent  State.  For,  while  disruption  would  be  a  great  ca- 
lamity, it  is  not  (as  Mr,  Jefferson  says)  the  greatest  that  could 
befall  us;  'there  remains  one  yet  greater — submission  to  a  gov- 
ernment of  unlimited  powers.'  Under  these  apprehensions,  pru- 
dence would  dictate  that  our  house  should  be  set  in  order  and  due 
preparations  made  for  the  crisis.  .  .  .  No  reasonable  efforts 
should  be  spared  to  secure  that  military  organization  and  train- 
ing indispensable  to  the  liberties  of  every  free  State.  .  .  . 
There  is  now  left  but  one  reasonable  hope  for  preserving  the 
Union  and  maintaining  the  rights  of  the  States  in  it,  and  that  is 
upon  a  rigid  adherence  to  a  strict  construction  of  the  Federal 
Constitution.  ...  A  liberal  course  of  policy  should  be  pur- 
sued to  insure  the  organization  of  volunteer  companies,  in  press- 
ing forward  to  an  early  completion  of  the  work  of  internal  im- 
provement indispensable  to  the  wants  of  commerce  and  agricul- 
ture, and  again,  in  disseminating  information  among  the  masses 
through  the  medium  of  our  system  of  education." 

In  the  course  of  his  remarks  Governor  Runnels  alluded  to  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  227 


severely  censured  the  course  then  being  pursued  by  Robert  J. 
Walker,  Governor  of  Kansas,  who,  by  betrayal  of  official  trust 
and  usurpation  of  authority,  was  seeking  to  make  Kansas,  nolens 
volens,  a  free  State ;  that  is,  free  for  everybody  but  Southerners 
with  their  property. 

In  former  years  Walker  had  served  as  United  States  senator 
from  Mississippi,  and,  as  such,  was  the  first  to  offer  a  motion  for 
the  recognition  of  Texas  independence.  He  was  appointed  Gov- 
ernor of  Kansas  by  President  Buchanan.  In  the  civil  war  he 
turned  completely  around  in  his  politics  and  was  so  vituperative 
against  the  South  that  a  post  bellum  Texas  Legislature  decreed 
that  a  county  which  had  been  first  called  in  his  honor  should 
thenceforward  be  considered  as  named  for  Capt.  Samuel  Walker. 

The  inaugural  ball  given  in  honor  of  Governor  Eunnels  oc- 
curred on  the  night  of  December  21,  1857,  and  was  thus  de- 
scribed by  one  who  attended : 

"The  inauguration  ball  on  the  night  of  the  21st  was  a  mag- 
nificent affair.  It  came  off  at  the  capitol,  the  spacious  hall  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  being  used  for  the  dancing  saloon. 
The  attendance  was  large.  About  two  hundred  ladies  were  pres- 
ent, dressed  with  great  taste,  and  among  them  many  that  were 
beautifiil.  The  room  was  brilliantly  lighted  with  the  elegant 
chandelier  which  adorns  the  house,  the  music  was  superb,  and 
when  the  gay  company  was  set  in  motion  the  effect  was  well  cal- 
culated to  drive  dull  care  away." 

In  his  message  the  Governor  called  attention  to  the  fact  that, 
notwithstanding  State  aid  to  railroad  construction,  the  building 
of  the  roads  had  not  made  satisfactory  progress,  urged  that  all 
those  chartered  should  be  held  to  a  strict  accountability,  and  op- 
posed the  further  indiscriminate  granting  of  charters. 

In  accordance  with  executive  recommendation,  acts  were 
passed  by  the  Legislature  to  take  the  census  of  the  State,  to 
make  a  digest  of  the  laws,  to  authorize  a  geological  and  agricul- 
tural survey  of  the  State,  and  to  establish  the  University  of 
Texas.  Senator  Wigfall  cleared  up  the  difficulty  as  to  whether 
the  framers  of  the  original  law  on  education  meant  one  or  two 
universities,  and  showed  conclusively  they  meant  a  university  for 
each  sex,  if  necessary,  and  not  two  universities  if  both  sexes  were 
educated  together.  This  appeared  in  the  able  and  eloquent  re- 


228  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


port  he  made  to  the  Senate  as  the  committee  chairman.  The 
House  report  for  one  university  was  presented  by  P.  W.  Kittrell, 
its  leading  advocate  there.  George  W.  Chilton  contended  for  two 
universities,  while  A.  B.  Norton  did  not  want  any,  but  preferred 
the  common  schools.  The  chief  opposition  was  in  the  House. 
But  the  bill  finally  passed  providing  for  one  university  and  a 
board  of  ten  administrators  for  its  control.  When  its  location 
was  determined  by  law,  the  construction  of  buildings  was  to 
begin.  Besides  setting  apart  the  fifty  leagues  of  land  granted  to 
the  university  in  the  original  educational  act  of  1839,  the  Legis- 
lature voted  $100,000  for  the  establishment  of  the  university, 
and  set  apart  for  it  every  tenth  section  of  all  the  land  granted  to 
the  railroads.  But  the  next  Legislature,  needing  money  to  re- 
deem the  pledges  made  by  Houston  in  the  canvass  of  1859  for 
better  frontier  protection,  appropriated  all  the  university  endow- 
ment for  that  purpose,  to  be  repaid  when  convenient,  without 
interest.  Nor  was  this  all.  The  same  Legislature  the  next  year 
in  special  session  appropriated,  to  pay  their  own  per  diem,  the 
university  cash  in  the  treasury. 

In  a  series  of  joint  resolutions  the  Legislature  asked  the 
United  States  government,  through  our  senators  and  representa- 
tives in  Congress,  to  give  us  a  regiment  of  mounted  men  as  an 
additional  guard  to  the  frontier,  and  to  reimburse  Texas  for 
what  she  had  spent  in  her  own  defense ;  and  authorized  the  Gov- 
ernor to  call  into  the  State  service  100  men  for  six  months,  or 
as  long  as  the  safety  of  the  frontier  might  require;  and  in  the 
event  of  the  failure  of  the  Federal  government  to  give  us  ade- 
quate protection,  to  call  out  any  number  of  men  necessary  to  pro- 
tect the  settlers  from  Indian  depredations. 

In  another  joint  resolution  Congress  was  asked  to  establish 
the  "Overland  Mail"  route  to  California  through  Texas.  Our 
senators  and  congressmen  were  also  urged  to  press  the  impeach- 
ment of  Federal  Judge  John  C.  Watrous,  to  ask  for  a  military 
post  on  upper  Red  River  to  overawe  the  Indians  in  that  quarter, 
and  for  the  removal  of  the  Indians  west  of  the  Pecos  to  the  reser- 
vation prepared  for  them  in  the  Indian  Territory. 

In  answer  to  the  special  message  on  affairs  in  Kansas,  the  Leg- 
islature, in  recognition  of  the  fact  that  the  rights  of  slaveholders 
were  not  respected  in  that  territory,  authorized,  by  joint  resolu- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  229 


tion,  the  Governor  to  order  an  election  for  seven  delegates  to 
represent  Texas  in  a  convention  of  the  slaveholding  States, 
should  one  be  called  to  consider  the  question  of  the  equality  of 
such  States  in  the  Union.  And,  in  anticipation  of  early  trouble, 
it  was  also  enacted  that  all  uniformed  military  companies  in  the 
State  should  be  placed  in  condition  for  active  service. 

There  were  many  interesting  debates  on  various  subjects, 
notably  the  State  University,  the  Alamo  monument,  and  the 
Mexican  "cart  war;"  but  what  interested  me  most  was  the  de- 
bate on  frontier  protection,  in  which  I  took  an  humble  part. 
This  was  the  only  occasion  in  which  I  left  the  chair  for  a  tilt  on 
the  floor.  And  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  see  enacted  what  ap- 
peared to  be  a  good  law  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier.  The 
prominent  speakers  were  Louis  T.  Wigfall,  Henry  E.  McCulloch, 

C.  B.  Shepard,  J.  W.  Throckmorton,  M.  D.  K.  Taylor,  Malcolm 

D.  Graham,  R.  H.  Guinn,  M.  M.  Potter,  Geo.  B.  Erath,  Sam  A. 
Maverick,  Robert  H.  Taylor,  Jonathan  Russell,  and  Isaiah  Pas- 
chal. 

Among  the  notable  debaters  in  the  House  were  Geo.  W.  Chil- 
ton,  A.  B.  Norton,  and  Messrs.  Price,  Crawford,  Kittrell,  Hart, 
Waelder,  and  Jennings. 

Cortina  gave  us  some  trouble  on  the  Rio  Grande,  but  the  main 
difficulty  was  with  the  Indians  on  the  Brazos  reservation.  Fre- 
quent outrages  were  reported,  and  excitement  rose  to  a  fever  heat 
among  the  whites  on  that  frontier.  The  Governor  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  inducing  the  Federal  authorities  to  remove  the  Indians 
out  of  the  State,  and  pending  their  removal  sent  military  com- 
panies under  Capt.  John  Henry  Brown  to  prevent  further  depre- 
dations. But  it  was  too  late ;  Runnels  had  lost  the  confidence  of 
the  settlers. 

Resolutions  of  sorrow  on  the  deaths  of  Gen.  Jas.  Hamilton; 
H.  G.  Runnels,  senator  from  Harris;  ex-President  Anson  Jones, 
and  Rev.  Daniel  Baker  (founder  of  Austin  College  at  Hunts- 
ville),  were  adopted  by  this  Legislature. 

General  Hamilton  was  drowned  at  sea  on  his  way  to  Texas. 
Ex-President  Jones  perished  by  his  own  hand,  shooting  himself 
at  the  Capitol  Hotel  in  Houston,  the  act  being  the  culmination 
of  a  long  period  of  physical  suffering  and  mental  despondency. 

The  resolutions  on  the  death  of  General  Hamilton  were  offered 


230  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


by  Senator  Wigfall  and  supported  by  a  speech  of  wonderful  elo- 
quence. He  said  in  part :  "His  death  is  a  calamity  not  only  to 
the  nation  and  his  own  State,  but  also  to  the  State  of  Texas.  He 
was  the  bold  and  powerful  advocate  of  Texas  in  her  dark  and 
bloody  struggle  with  Mexico.  When  the  heroic  spirits  of  '36 
were  treated  with  opprobrium  and  as  having  forfeited  all  claims 
to  the  fraternal  regard  of  the  people  of  the  United  Sates,  he  then, 
in  his  place  in  the  Senate  of  South  Carolina,  with  thoughts  that 
breathed  and  words  that  burned  with  living  fire,  repelled  the  im- 
putations on  the  purity  and  honor  of  our  motives,  and,  in  the 
light  of  such  eloquence  and  truth,  gave  such  elevation  to  our  con- 
troversy as  to  challenge  the  admiration  of  the  world,  and  to 
change  indifference  into  friendship  and  enthusiasm." 

Mr.  Kittrell,  on  offering  resolutions  of  respect  to  the  memory 
of  Rev.  Daniel  Baker,  said  among  other  things :  "His  death,  sir, 
was  a  beautiful  commentary  on  his  life.  When  his  physician's 
skill  failed  and  the  solemn  truth  burst  upon  him  that  in  a  few 
minutes  he  must  die,  he  calmly  and  peacefully  folded  his  arms 
on  his  breast,  and  said,  'Lord  Jesus,  into  Thy  hands  I  commend 
my  spirit.'  Thus,  sir*  the  spirit  of  this  great  and  good  man,  on 
the  very  incense  of  hope,  faith,  and  prayer,  was  borne  to  the 
bosom  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  Sir,  let  gentlemen  vaunt  their 
cobweb  system  of  infidelity,  .  .  .  but  give  me  that  pure 
system  of  Christianity  which  will  enable  me,  when  the  last  mo- 
ments come,  to  calmly  and  quietly  consign  my  spirit  to  Him  who 
gave  it  as  did  our  friend." 

While  Lieutenant-Governor  many  questions  of  great  import- 
ance were  before  the  Senate.  I,  however,  having  no  vote  unless 
in  case  of  a  tie,  took  but  little  part  in  their  determination.  Fur- 
thermore, I  did  not  care  to  become  partisan,  as  I  might  be  called 
on  at  any  time  to  give  a  casting  vote,  and  the  body  was  almost 
entirely  Democratic. 

The  all-absorbing  question,  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  bill  in 
the  United  States  Congress,  was  quite  an  exciting  issue  at 
that  time  with  us.  I  recall  rather  an  amusing  incident  in  the 
State  Senate.  A  discussion  was  going  on  touching  this  question, 
and  the  debate  became  very  warm,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  represent- 
ing the  Southern  view,  and  the  irrepressible  Bob  Taylor,  known 
as  "Comanche  Bob,"  from  Fannin  County,  upholding  the  squat- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  231 


ter  side.  Taylor  concluded  he  would  perpetrate  a  joke  on  Sen- 
ator Stockdale.  He  offered  an  amendment.  Stockdale  was  en- 
gaged and  was  paying  no  attention  to  Taylor's  amendment.  Tay- 
lor called  for  a  vote.  Stockdale  got  up  hurriedly  and  objected 
most  vociferously  to  the  amendment,  whereupon  Taylor  asked 
that  the  amendment  be  read  again;  that  the  senator  was  not 
aware  of  what  his  amendment  was;  that  he  knew  him  to  be  a 
good  Democrat,  and  he  had  just  copied  his  amendment  from  the 
Democratic  platform  adopted  at  Cincinnati.  Stockdale  could 
only  reply  that  it  was  safe  to  object  to  anything  coming  from  the 
senator  from  Fannin. 

The  question  of  frontier  protection  was  always  prominent. 
While  this  subject  was  before  the  committee  of  the  whole,  I  ven- 
tured, as  I  had  a  right  to  do  under  the  Constitution,  to  ventilate 
my  views,  supporting  the  proposition  for  an  adequate  appropria- 
tion regardless  of  what  the  United  States  government  might  do 
in  the  premises,  and  insisting  that,  it  having  failed  to  give  ade- 
quate protection,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  State  to  take  the  matter 
in  charge  for  the  proper  defense  of  our  people  and  soil. 

I  felt  assured,  and  I  was  proud  of  the  fact  that  when  the  Leg- 
islature adjourned  they  went  home  satisfied  with  my  course  and 
determined  to  support  me  for  another  term. 

In  the  meantime  General  Houston  and  his  friends  had  not 
been  idle.  They  had  been  all  the  while  endeavoring  to  belittle 
the  administration  of  Governor  Runnels.  They  made  war  espe- 
cially on  his  frontier  policy  and  his  want  of  information  in  deal- 
ing with  our  Indian  troubles.  General  Houston  determined  that 
no  effort  should  be  left  untried  to  capture  the  government  at  the 
next  election,  and  that  he  would  be  an  independent  Democratic 
candidate,  thus  gathering  many  old-time  Democrats  into  his  fold 
and  every  element  opposed  to  the  Democratic  party.  He  builded 
well,  as  the  sequel  will  show. 

The  Democratic  State  convention  at  Austin,  January  8,  1858, 
was  called  to  order  by  John  Marshall,  chairman  of  the  State 
central  committee,  in  the  hall  of  representatives.  M.  D.  K.  Tay- 
lor, of  Cass,  was  chosen  president,  and  C.  B.  Shepard,  M.  P.  Nor- 
ton, W.  S.  Oldham,  M.  T.  Johnson,  and  John  Marshall,  vice- 
presidents. 

The  secretaries  were :   P.  De  Cordova,  W.  L.  Chalmers,  E.  F. 


232  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Calhoun,  H.  H.  Haynie,  John  T.  Harcourt,  of  Fayette,  J.  H. 
Torbitt,  of  Johnson,  and  Levi  Pennington,  of  Williamson. 

These  were  nominated:  For  Chief  Justice,  E.  T.  Wheeler,  of 
Galveston,  by  acclamation ;  Associate  Justices,  Constantine  W. 
Buckley,  of  Fort  Bend,  over  P.  W.  Gray,  T.  J.  Jennings,  T.  N. 
Waul,  Geo.  Moore,  and  J.  W.  Henderson;  Attorney-General, 
Malcolm  D.  Graham,  of  Rusk,  over  James  Willie,  G.  W.  Chilton, 
S.  H.  Morgan,  R.  S.  Gould,  and  —  Turner;  Comptroller,  C.  B. 
Johns,  of  Travis,  over  Shaw  and  Johnson;  Treasurer,  C.  H. 
Randolph,  of  Houston,  over  James  H.  Raymond  and  E.  B.  Scar- 
borough. 

All  the  nominees  were  elected  except  Judge  Buckley.  Judge 
James  H.  Bell,  who  then  claimed  to  be  a  Democrat,  came  out  as 
a  candidate  against  Buckley  and  attacked  his  record  with  such 
success  as  to  defeat  him  at  the  polls.  A  good  illustration  this 
that  a  Democratic  nomination  does  not  in  every  instance  elect  a 
man  to  office.  Bell  was  said  to  have  been  the  first  child  born  in 
Austin's  colony. 

In  line  with  old-time  Democratic  principles  the  convention 
"Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  people  of  all  the 
territories,  including  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  acting  through  the 
fairly  expressed  will  of  the  majority  of  actual  residents,  and 
whenever  the  number  of  their  inhabitants  justifies  it,  to  form  a 
Constitution  with  or  without  domestic  slavery,  and  to  be  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  upon  terms  of  perfect  equality  with  the 
other  States." 

The  State  Democratic  committee  were:  J.  W.  Dancy,  A.  M. 
Lewis,  S.  S.  Smith,  P.  Murrah,  0.  C.  Hartley,  S.  H.  Morgan, 
A.  J.  Hood,  H.  B.  Nichols,  A.  C.  Hyde,  B.  McCluskey,  D.  M. 
Prendergast,  Somers  Kinney,  Wm.  Smith,  Nat  Terry,  R.  T. 
Posey,  C.  Upson,  Wm.  H.  Hardeman,  J.  W.  Throckmorton,  E. 
M.  Pease,  and  D.  C.  Dickson. 

The  Cincinnati  National  Democratic  platform  and  State  plat- 
form of  Waco  were  reaffirmed  as  to  the  principles  embodied  in 
them,  and  especially  the  doctrine  of  non-intervention  in  the  terri- 
tories. 

As  this  principle  was  now  threatened  in  the  North,  this  body 
recommended  a  convention  of  Southern  States,  to  which  dele- 
gates from  Texas  should  go,  appointed  by  the  Governor  on  the 
authority  of  the  Legislature. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  233 


Gen.  T.  J.  Chambers  offered  a  resolution  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union  in  case  of  hostile  congressional  action  on  slavery  in  Kan- 
sas, but  it  was  tabled. 

It  was  desirable  to  get  back  into  the  Democratic  ranks  the  men 
who  had  wandered  off  among  the  Know-Nothings,  and  on  mo- 
tion of  our  distinguished  Mexican  statesman,  J.  A.  Navarro,  who 
had  not  a  little  sly  humor  in  his  make-up,  the  convention  re- 
solved, "that  the  doors  of  the  great  temple  of  Democracy  be  now 
thrown  open,  and  that  all  repentant  sinners  be  invited  to  come 
back,  confessing  their  sins,  and  be  readmitted  into  the  fold  of  the 
faithful."  This  was  at  a  special  night  session,  and  a  great  com- 
motion ensued  when  it  was  announced  that  the  doors  of  the  great 
Democratic  church  were  now  open  to  honest  backsliders. 

Loud  was  the  cry  from  all  parts  of  the  house  and  boisterous 
the  shouts  of  the  jubilants  as  the  special  friends  of  the  mourners 
set  out  in  search  of  them.  In  a  few  minutes  the  stamping  and 
clapping  became  almost  deafening,  certainly  indescribable,  when 
the  first  mourner  was  led  up  to  the  stand  by  Senator  Wigfall 
and  Gen.  Andrew  J.  Hamilton.  In  obedience  to  cries  of  "Down 
in  front !"  the  crowd  gave  way  sufficiently  to  enable  us  to  see  the 
meek  and  contrite  spirit  thus  led  up  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter. 
The  light  of  the  chandeliers  could  not  sufficiently  give  the  locus 
in  quo  of  the  soft  and  musical  voice  that  in  response  to  shouts 
for  "McLeod  !  McLeod  !"  addressed  our  "fellow  Democrats.*'  As 
voices  were  heard  to  utter  responsive  sentiments,  shouts  and 
cheers  went  up,  calls  on  members  to  be  seated  went  round,  and 
the  wall  echoed  back  the  call  for  the  mourner  to  get  upon  the 
clerk's  desk — to  climb  higher,  so  that  the  ladies  could  see  him. 
Always  responsive  to  woman's  call,  like  the  gallant  soldier  and 
chivalrous  gentleman  that  he  was,  General  McLeod  mounted 
higher  and  gracefully  turned  round  to  address  the  president, 
who  had  become  suddenly  transmogrified  from  Dr.  Taylor  to 
J.  M.  Clough,  and  as  the  convert  recognized  in  the  temporal 
head  of  the  church  an  old  friend  and  companion,  amid  the  heart- 
iest applause,  he  unbuttoned  his  coat,  and  gracefully  patting  that 

"Little  round  belly 
That  shook  when  he  laughed  like  a  bowl  full  of  jelly," 

thus  began  his  remarks: 


234  LUBBOC1CS  MEMOIRS. 


"Fellow  Democrats :  I  do  not  like  the  way  that  resolution  of 
yours  reads.  [Laughter,  and  a  voice,  'That's  right !']  No, 
gentlemen,  I  object  to  that  as  not  being  fair.  That  the  doors 
should  be  thrown  open  is  all  right  [laughter]  ;  but  I  object  to 
that  part  that  calls  all  of  us  who  want  to  come  in  'repentant  sin- 
ners' [cheers],  and  requires  us  to  confess  our  sins  [a  voice, 
'Good,'  and  loud  laughter]  before  we  can  be  admitted  into  the 
fold.  [Loud  stamping,  and  the  general's  eyes  twinkled  like  little 
stars.  He  looked  so  chuck  full  of  good  humor  that  one  would 
have  thought  he  was  entirely  at  home,  not  one  of  the  faithless  in 
the  house  of  the  faithful.]  Fellow  Democrats,  there  are  many 
honest-minded  independent  gentlemen  who  want  to  be  with  you, 
but  will  not  bow  the  knee  and  come  in  under  the  resolution. 
[Loud  cheering,  and  a  voice,  'Oh,  yes;  they  will,'  and  'They  can't 
help  it.']  As  for  myself,  I  don't  take  back  anything  that  I  have 
done,  and  I  don't  intend  to.  [Cheers.]  I  am  not  a  repentant  sin- 
ner; your  principles  are  mine,  and  I  never  had  any  other.  ['Hear, 
hear,'  and  clapping  throughout  the  house.]  The  North  is  now 
arrayed  against  the  South.  The  President  of  the  United  States 
needs  help  now,  and  every  Southern  gentleman  should  be  in- 
vited in.  Come  up  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  the  mighty. 
I  have  read  a  section  of  the  Waco  platform,  and  if  that  means 
Democracy,  then  I  have  always  been  a  Democrat.  [A  voice,  'But 
a  d — d  long  time  finding  it  out,  and  I  have  not  discovered  it  yet.'] 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Democratic  convention  who  will  swear  by 
the  Waco  platform, — every  one  who  will  be  true  to  the  South, — 
come  in ;  then  your  convention  can  rely  upon  a  united  Texas  and 
a  united  South." 

In  great  good  humor  with  himself  and  with  the  appearance  of 
a  heart  at  ease  with  all  the  world,  the  general  descended  the  steps 
amidst  a  shower  of  applause. 

Mr.  Wilt-ox  then  came  forward.  He  announced  in  substance 
that  the  majority  had  decided  against  him,  and  that  appeared 
his  main  reason  for  coming  over.  He  had  always  been  a  Demo- 
crat (but  such  a  Democrat).  He,  too,  had  never  done  anything 
wrong,  and  had  done  nothing  to  apologize  for.  As  a  justification 
of  his  conduct  he  plied  the  convention  with  his  Know-Nothing 
arguments  and  with  a  defense  of  General  Houston. 

Col.  Robert  H.  Taylor,  of  Fannin,  made  the  most  sensible  and 


LUBB OCX'S   MEMOIRS.  235 


consistent  confession.  He  had  not  come  back  to  the  Democratic 
party,  he  said,  for  he  had  never  till  recently  belonged  to  it.  On 
the  contrary,  he  had  fought  it  from  his  youth  up.  He  remained 
with  the  Whig  party  as  long  as  it  had  an  existence,  and  when  it 
died  he  joined  the  Know-Nothings,  not  that  he  had  any  particu- 
lar love  for  "Sam,"  but  he  had  thought  it  the  best  trick  to  beat 
the  Democrats.  (He  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear.)  He 
had  been  a  latitudinarian,  but  he  was  now  assured  that  the  safety 
of  the  South  and  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union  required  a  strict 
construction  of  the  Constitution  and  a  rigid  adherence  to  the 
doctrines  embraced  in  the  celebrated  Virginia  and  Kentucky 
resolutions.  [Cheers.]  The  Democratic  party  had  adopted  these 
resolutions  as  their  platform,  and  so  long  as  it  maintained  that 
attitude,  he  would  stand  by  it.  [Prolonged  cheers.]  There  were 
but  two  parties  in  the  country — the  Democrats  and  Black  Re- 
publicans. The  Democratic  party  was  the  only  organization  that 
had  any  claims  to  nationality.  If  the  Union  was  to  be  saved,  it 
must  be  through  that  party.  The  American  or  Know-Nothing 
party  was  powerless  for  good.  Its  only  tendency  was  to  prevent 
union  in  the  South.  It  was,  therefore,  a  factious,  disorganizing, 
and  mischievous  party,  and  he  besought  all  those  who  loved  their 
country  to  do  as  he  had  done,  and  to  lay  down  their  prejudices 
upon  its  sacred  altar. 

Bob  Taylor  was  loudly  cheered  for  this  confession;  but  his 
Democracy  soon  withered  away. 

The  above  facts  are  given  as  reported  in  the  public  prints  of 
the  day. 


236  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  FOURTEEN. 

The  Ranch  Again  —  My  Preparations  for  Raising  Asiatic  Poultry — 
The  Various  Breeds  Kept  Separate-1- Some  Pleasure,  but  No  Profit 
to  Me  in  the  Business  —  Government  Importation  of  Camels  in 
1856-57  —  A  Private  Cargo  at  Galveston  —  A  Year's  Experience  with 
t'his  Lot  of  Camels  on  My  Ranch  —  Items  of  Camel  Life  —  Mrs. 
Looscan's  Recollections  of  the  Camels. 

In  the  early  fifties  a  craze  swept  over  Texas  and  the  Union 
generally  for  Asiatic  poultry.  Having  determined  to  introduce 
and  raise  some  of  the  choice  breeds  of  fowls  from  Asia,  I  made 
elaborate  preparations  for  their  care  and  propagation  by  having 
erected  on  my  ranch  a  commodious  chicken  house  50x18  feet, 
three  stories  high,  and  conveniently  subdivided  for  the  different 
breeds.  It  was  placed  near  the  center  of  an  acre  lot,  set  out  with 
fig  and  plum  trees,  and  inclosed  with  a  high  fence  of  cypress 
pickets.  Painted  white  and  surmounted  by  a  cupola,  this  build- 
ing presented  a  creditable  appearance  to  passers  by,  and  sug- 
gested anew  to  their  minds  that  a  live  Yankee  must  be  the  owner 
of  the  premises.  When  the  preparations  were  completed,  I  set 
out  to  New  Orleans  with  a  drove  of  beef  cattle,  intending,  after 
disposing  of  them,  to  inquire,  into  the  foreign  chicken  market. 
My  cattle  sold,  I  found  a  French  importer  of  Asiatic  fowls  and 
soon  made  a  deal  with  him  for  a  pair  of  Brahmas  at  $40  a  pair, 
of  Dominicks  at  $30,  and  a  pair  of  Shanghais  at  $20.  I  got  them 
on  my  ranch  near  Houston  in  due  time  and  without  injury,  and 
they  were  then  installed  in  their  respective  apartments  in  their 
big  new  house.  The  Brahmas  being  the  heaviest,  occupied  the 
first  story,  the  Dominicks  the  second,  and  the  comparatively  light 
Shanghais  the  third  story.  Each  breed  went  out  of  its  apart- 
ment in  the  house  by  a  separate  passway  to  a  separate  division 
of  the  yard.  Thus  the  different  stocks,  never  mingling,  were 
kept  pure.  With  all  this  care  the  chickens  were  very  prolific,  and 
our  stock  at  one  time  run  up  to  fifteen  hundred.  Grain  in  their 
house  and  plums  and  figs  outside  gave  them  the  proper  nourish- 
ment, and  they  had  an  excellent  flavor  when  properly  cooked, 
especially  the  younger  ones.  Our  common  chickens  were  all 
disposed  of  pretty  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  Asiatics,  who  in 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  237 


a  year  or  two  supplied  our  table  abundantly  with  eggs  and  young 
fowls.  Our  success  in  chicken  raising,  for  Mrs.  Lubbock  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  business,  made  me  a  sort  of  authority  on  the 
subject.  Many  came  in  person  to  see  how  we  had  succeeded  in  a 
business  in  which  the  majority  had  failed,  and  others  made  in- 
quiries by  mail. 

The  subjoined  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  on  the  subject  I  wrote 
to  my  friend,  Mr.  Jacob  De  Cordova.26 

"Chickens  of  all  descriptions  do  well  in  Texas,  and  so  do  all 
other  kinds  of  poultry.  Although  the  introduction  of  the  Asiatic 
breeds  of  fowls  in  this  country  has  been  considered  one  of  the 
humbugs  of  the  day,  I  feel  that  it  has  been  highly  advantageous. 
My  experience  teaches  me  that  the  larger  description  of  fowls  is 
more  easily  raised  than  the  common  barnyard  kind.  It  requires 
as  good  judgment  in  the  selection  of  fowls  as  that  of  any  other 
stock.  I,  however,  prefer  the  Dominicks,  Shanghais,  and 
Brahma-Pootras,  as  they  appear  to  be  the  most  hardy,  and  pro- 
lific layers  and  excellent  mothers.  Care  should  be  taken  in  se- 
lecting fowls  of  good  form,  and  by  all  means  with  short  legs  and 
broad  backs.  Many  complain  that  the  large  fowls  are  always 
lame.  This  is  attributable  in  a  great  measure  to  want  of  care  in 

2  6  The  editor  calls  attention  to  Jacob  DeCordova's  estimate  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor Lubbock  in  his  "Texas:" 

"Frank  Lubbock  has  made  himself.  He  never  attended  school  after 
the  age  of  thirteen,  and  of  course  has  not  a  finished  education;  but  he 
has  studied  men  and  things  in  practical  life,  and  has  an  almost  intuitive 
perception  of  their  merits.  He  observes  closely  and  investigates 
patiently,  and  his  opinions,  once  formed,  are  openly  and  freely  avowed. 
His  politics  has  always  been  Democratic.  ...  Of  Frank  Lubbock's 
qualities  as  a  private  individual — of  his  domestic  attachments  and  so- 
cial relations,  of  his  noble  disposition,  and  generosity  of  character — it 
is  needless  for  us  to  speak.  All  who  know  him  appreciate  him  from  the 
Red  River  to  the  Gulf.  He  is  emphatically  a  Texan,  an  old  Texan 
(though  yet  in  the  vigor  of  manhood),  and  has  devoted  himself  from 
early  youth  to  the  interests  of  Texas,  first  as  a  feeble  colony,  striving 
to  be  free,  then  as  a  Republic  among  the  nations,  and  since  as  a  State 
of  the  Federal  Union.  There  is  no  man  more  thoroughly  identified 
with  the  whole  of  Texas,  from  its  infancy  to  the  present  time,  than 
Frank  Lubbock.  And  we  venture  to  assert  that  no  man  has  ever  been 
more  unanimously  called  by  the  people  of  Texas  to  a  high  official  posi- 
tion than  Mr.  Lubbock  was  at  the  last  August  election.  To  see  the 
man  is  to  respect  him;  and  to  know  him  well  is  to  love  him." 


238  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


providing  them  with  proper  perches,  which  ought  in  no  instance 
to  be  at  a  greater  height  than  eighteen  inches  from  the  ground. 
By  attention  to  this  point,  you  will  seldom  find  your  fowls  lame." 

Of  course,  I  regarded  my  chickens  as  the  genuine  Democratic 
stock,  as  I  fancied  that  the  roosters  always  crowed  more  lustily 
after  the  Democrats  had  carried  an  election. 

I  went  into  the  Asiatic  chicken  business  for  a  speculation,  and 
the  reader  may  be  curious  to  know  the  result.  Well,  it  was  this 
exactly :  I  never  sold  an  egg  or  a  chicken  during  the  whole  time 
I  was  engaged  in  the  business,  but  we  had  a  good  time  in  living 
on  them.  Neighbors  and  friends  from  a  distance  would  come 
to  see  us  and  get,  free  of  cost,  a  setting  of  eggs,  and  others  would 
carry  off  a  pair  of  chickens  at  the  same  price.  I  was  in  politics, 
had  to  be  liberal,  and  suppose  I  got  good  pay  in  the  long  run. 
My  motto  now  is,  "If  you  are  in  politics,  don't  try  to  raise  fine 
chickens  for  profit ;  if  you  are  already  in  the  business,  keep  out 
of  politics.'"' 

When  my  duties  as  Lieutenant-Governor  did  not  call  me  to 
the  capital,  I  stuck  very  closely  to  my  ranch. 

At  this  period  I  had  a  strange  experience  in  the  stock  business 
with  a  lot  of  camels  intrusted  to  my  care. 

Old  Texans  recollect  that  under  the  auspices  of  the  Hon. 
Jefferson  Davis,  then  Secretary  of  War  under  President  Pierce, 
a  cargo  of  thirty  or  thirty-five  camels  were  landed  at  Indianola 
in  the  spring  of  1856.  After  a  short  rest  in  that  vicinity,  they 
were  driven  up  to  San  Antonio,  and  a  few  weeks  later  the  herd 
of  camels  went  into  permanent  quarters  at  Camp  Verde,  sixty 
miles  southwest  of  that  city.  They  were  in  charge  of  Major 
Wayne,  who  tested  with  satisfactory  results  their  capacity  as 
swift  burden  bearers.  The  next  spring  forty  more,  landed  at 
Indianola,  joined  the  herd  at  Camp  Verde. 

In  the  fall  of  1858  a  couple  of  ships,  presumably  British, 
anchored  at  (Jalvoston  under  suspicious  circumstances.  They 
were  first  thought  to  be  slavers  watching  for  an  opportunity  of 
secretly  landing  their  human  freight.  But  the  ships  turned  out 
to  be  laden  only  with  camels;  at  least  no  evidence  appeared  that 
they  had  any  African  negroes  aboard  to  sell  as  slaves.  Happen- 
ing to  be  in  Qalveston  at  the  time,  I  went  to  see  the  camels 
(about  forty  in  number),  after  they  had  been  landed  and  penned. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


239 


Mrs.  Watson,  an  English  lady,  owner  of  the  herd,  was  hunt- 
ing some  reliable  person  to  whom  she  might  intrust  its  care 
till  finally  disposed  of  by  sale  or  otherwise.  I  was  intro- 
duced as  a  proper  person  to  the  lady,  and  her  agent,  Senor 
Michado.  A  few  preliminaries  once  settled  as  to  the  extent  of 
my  obligations  for  their  safety,  I  contracted  with  Senor  Michado 
on  satisfactory  terms  to  assume  the  custody  and  maintenance  of 
the  camels  when  delivered  at  my  ranch.  Accordingly  a  steam- 
boat was  chartered,  on  which  Michado  brought  the  animals  to 


My  Arabs  going  to  Houston. 


the  mouth  of  Sims'  Bayou  for  delivery.  The  landing  took  place 
in  the  presence  of  a  crowd  of  spectators,  among  whom  were  Sam 
Allen,  Jules  Baron  (my  brother-in-law),  and  myself.  On  find- 
ing themselves  once  more  on  solid  ground,  they  showed 
•their  high  spirits  by  jumping,  rearing,  and  frisking  about  like 
sheep.  Observing  these  capers,  Baron  remarked  that  he  did  not 
believe  that  anyone  could  lasso  a  camel.  Allen  quickly  affirmed 
the  contrary,  and  finally  bet  Baron  $10  that  he  could  rope  one 
himself.  Allen  mounted  his  horse,  lasso  in  hand,  and,  with  a 
sharp  swing,  on  the  first  trial  threw  it  over  the  head  of  a  large 
.camel  and  brought  him  to  the  ground  after  a  short  struggle. 
Baron,  lately  in  from  Louisiana,  had  not  learned  that  Texans 
generally  accomplish  what  they  undertake.  Michado,  with  his 


240  1MB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


outlandish  servants,  Turks  or  Arabs  of  unpronounceable  names, 
conducted  the  camels  to  my  ranch,  a  few  miles  distant.  Here 
they  were  easily  corraled  in  the  pasture  prepared  for  them. 

The  camels  once  in  my  care,  Michado  returned  to  Galveston, 
leaving  the  herd  with  the  foreigners,  whom  I  will  call  "Arabs." 
The  pasture  had  in  it  seventy-five  acres  or  more,  nearly  all  prairie 
with  a  small  skirt  of  timber  near  the  bayou,  and  inclosed  by  a 
new  high  staked  and  ridered  fence.  In  addition  to  the  grazing  in 
the  inclosure,  there  was  given  them  every  day  large  quanti- 
ties of  cured  hay,  which  they  devoured  at  will.  Every  two  or 
three  days,  when  it  was  warm,  they  were  taken  out  of  the  pasture 
to  water  at  a  selected  place  on  the  bayou,  to  avoid  bogging.  In 
winter  the  intervals  of  watering  ran  up  to  four  or  five  days.  This 
was  managed  with  so  much  care  that  only  one  or  two  camels 
bogged  at  the  watering  place.  These  had  to  be  drawn  out  of  the 
bayou  by  a  yoke  of  strong  oxen;  for  after  several  ineffectual 
efforts  to  extricate  themselves  and  getting  down  deeper  in  the 
mire,  they  sank  down  quietly,  with  only  'a  few  mournful  plaints 
of  distress,  apparently  resigned  to  their  fate.  And  it  was  not 
without  some  nursing  and  attention  that  they  fully  recovered 
from  their  sad  experience  on  being  hauled  out.  While  not  being 
perhaps  so  much  of  a  water  animal  as  the  horse,  the  camel  can 
certainly  swim,  as  was  demonstrated  by  some  of  this  herd  in 
Buffalo  Bayou.  I  remember  of  having  lost  but  one  from  the 
effects  of  bogging. 

The  word  camel  is  here  used  as  generic,  without  reference  to 
its  number  of  humps.  The  two-humped  variety  is  said  to  have 
originated  in  Bactria,  and  is  accordingly  called  the  Bactrian 
camel :  while  the  one-humped  species,  coming  as  it  is  said  orig- 
inally from  Arabia,  is  for  that  reason  called  Arabian.  The  drome- 
dary, as  the  original  term  implies,  is  simply  a  "racer."  It  is 
always  of  the  one-humped  or  Arabian  variety,  as  the  Bactrian  is 
too  heavy  and  clumsy  for  a  "courser  of  the  desert."  The  Bactrian 
is  the  most  powerful  and  the  better  adapted  to  heavy  burden- 
bearing.  They  were  extensively  used  for  transportation  pur- 
poses by  tho  allied  armies  in  the  Crimean  war. 

The  habitat  of  the  camel  is  commonly  supposed  to  be  tropical, 
but  camel  land  extends  as  far  north  in  Asia  as  the  fifty-second 
degree  of  latitude.  Their  favorite  range  is  in  the  north  temper- 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  241 


ate  zone,  as  they  suffer  more  from  heat  than  cold,  contrary 
to  the  usual  opinion  on  the  subject.  We  had  only  about  six  or 
seven  Bactrians  in  our  herd  of  Arabians. 

This  herd  did  not  seem  to  suffer  from  the  cold  in  the  winter 
of  1858-9,  though  they  had  no  protection  but  a  skirt  of  timber 
on  the  north.  The  ration  for  each  camel  was  eight  or  ten  pounds 
of  hay  each  day  in  winter,  when  there  was  practically  no  grazing 
in  their  inclosure.  While  specially  fond  of  small  grain,  such  as 
wheat,  barley,  and  oats,  the  camel  when  hungry  will  browse  upon 
almost  any  kind  of  shrub  with  apparent  relish.  As  to  their 
powers  of  endurance  and  traveling  ability  I  had  no  ocular  demon- 
stration, but  have  been  told,  by  those  who  knew,  that  they,  on  a 
pinch,  can  travel  a  week  without  food  or  water,  carrying  300  or 
400  pounds  each,  averaging  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  a  day,  and 
that  the  dromedaries,  or  "the  coursers  of  the  desert,"  can  travel 
fifty  miles  a  day  with  a  burden  of  150  pounds.  While  the  gen- 
eral disposition  of  the  camel  is  docile  and  meek,  the  males  at  a 
particular  season  of  the  year  are  very  pugnacious,  and  sometimes 
fight  each  other  to  the  death.  The  camels  in  my  charge  appeared 
healthy  and  free  from  all  disease,  unless  something  on  the  skin 
like  the  itch  might  be  so  considered.  During  their  year's  stay  at 
my  ranch,  besides  the  one  lost  in  the  bog,  only  two  died,  and  that 
from  causes  unknown. 

The  camels  were  naturally  a  great  curiosity  for  Texans,  and 
our  neighbors,  and  people  from  a  distance,  flocked  in  to  see  the 
strange  sight.  The  camels  were  quite  obedient  to  their  Arab 
keepers,  kneeling  and  rising  at  word  of  command.  In  going  to 
Houston,  six  miles  distant,  the  Arabs  would  ride  a  camel  each, 
and  their  entry  and  exit  would  always  create  a  sensation  among 
the  people  in  town  seeing  them  for  the  first  time. 

This  letter,  from  the  widow  of  the  late  Maj.  M.  Looscan  to 
my  editor,  explains  itself: 

"HOUSTON,  January  29,  1899. 
"Judge  C.  W.  Raines,  Austin,  Texas : 

"DEAR  SIR — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  recent  date,  re- 
questing that  I  write  out  my  recollections  of  the  camels  once  pas- 
tured near  Governor  Lubbock's  ranch  on  Sims'  Bayou. 

"I  think  it  was  in  the  summer  of  1859  that  about  forty  camels 
16 


242  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


in  charge  of  four  or  five  Arabs  were  pastured  on  the  south  side 
of  the  stream  mentioned,  at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile  from 
the  residence.  In  company  with  Ella  Hutchins  (now  Mrs.  Sea- 
brook  Sydnor,  of  this  city),  John  Bringhurst  and  Charley  Gen- 
try, all  of  Houston,  I  drove  over  from  Harrisburg  to  see  the 
camels.  We  were  disappointed,  however,  in  our  wish  to  have  a 
ride  on  one  of  them,  as  the  only  gentle  one  was  missing  from  the 
herd.  After  a  good  deal  of  time  spent,  he  was  finally  discovered 
mired  up  to  his  breast  in  the  mud  of  the  bayou.  All  efforts  to  ex- 
tricate him  having  proved  fruitless,  the  ride  was  given  up;  the 
next  day  a  yoke  of  oxen  succeeded  in  pulling  him  out,  but  the 
strain  was  so  great  the  camel  did  not  long  survive. 

"Subsequently,  when  the  camels  were  brought  to  Harrisburg, 
one  of  theni  was  equipped  with  the  peculiar  pack-saddle  com- 
monly used  on  these  animals.  It  was  covered  with  rugs  or  car- 
pets, and  the  shelf-like  saddle  on  one  side  was  occupied  by  a  gen- 
tleman friend  and  myself,  while  the  other  side  was  balanced  by 
another  gentleman.  We  rode  for  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile, 
the  camel  being  led  by  an  Arab  who  trotted  on  ahead,  continually 
encouraging  the  camel  by  ejaculations  to  which  he  seemed  to 
respond.  The  long  strides  made  a  swinging,  rough  motion  by  no 
means  easy,  but  rapid,  and  when  the  ride  had  come  to  an  end,  in 
obedience  to  command,  the  animal  sank  suddenly  upon  his  knees ; 
a  headlong  plunge  for  the  riders  would  have  resulted  but  for  the 
rapidity  with  which  the  whole  came  to  a  level  on  the  ground. 
.  .  .  I  am,  respectfully, 

"ADELE  B.  LOOSCAN." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  243 


CHAPTER  FIFTEEN. 

State  Convention  at  Houston  in  1859 — The  Platform  —  Its  Expansion 
Plank — Tabling  of  African  Slave-Trade  Resolutions — The  Nomi- 
nees— Congressional  Conventions  and  Candidates — Runnels  and 
Lubbock  vs.  Houston  and  Clark — Campaign  Incidents — Election  of 
United  States  Senator — Houston  Governor — Financial  Stress — Fron- 
tier Troubles  —  State  Convention  at  Galveston  —  Resolutions  —  The 
Delegates  to  Charleston. 

The  Democratic  State  convention  of  1859  met  in  Houston  on 
the  1st  day  of  May,  and  was  called  to  order  by  John  Marshall, 
chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee. 

A.  J.  Hood,  of  Cherokee,  was  elected  president  over  J.  W. 
Dancy,  of  Fayette,  by  a  vote  of  196  to  135.  L.  M.  Still,  Ed. 
Waller,  Isaac  Parker,  and  A  C.  Hyde  were  elected  vice-presi- 
dents, and  P.  DeCordova,  E.  E.  Ewing,  D.  M.  Short,  and  J.  H. 
Torbett  secretaries. 

G.  W.  Chilton,  of  Smith,  moved  that  all  proxies  be  admitted  to 
seats  in  the  convention. 

The  motion  was  voted  down. 

Several  substitutes  and  amendments  being  offered,  a  lengthy 
discussion  ensued,  and  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  resolutions 
providing  that  all  regularly  appointed  proxies  be  admitted  as 
delegates  (adopted,  on  call  of  counties,  by  a  vote  of  163  to  152)  ; 
that  no  proxy  should  be  considered  as  regularly  appointed  where 
there  was  a  delegate  from  the  same  county  in  the  convention 
(carried  viva  voce)  ;  fixing  the  basis  of  representation  at  one  vote 
for  every  100  Democratic  votes  cast  in  a  county  at  the  last  pre- 
ceding election  for  Attorney- General,  Comptroller,  and  State 
Treasurer,  taking  the  average  vote  for  the  above  State  officers 
as  the  standard;  and  providing  for  a  committee  on  credentials 
to  consist  of  one  delegate  from  each  county.  Seventy-three  coun- 
ties were  represented.  The  total  number  of  delegates  and  proxies 
amounted  to  335. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Chilton,  of  Smith,  the  chair  appointed  a 
committee  on  platform,  consisting  of  one  from  each  judicial  dis- 
trict, as  follows:  First,  C.  C.  Herbert;  Second,  Geo.  W.  White; 


244  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Third,  J.  D.  Giddings;  Fourth,  E.  L.  Graves;  Fifth,  D.  M. 
Short;  Sixth,  John  McClarty;  Seventh,  E.  A.  Palmer;  Eighth, 
C.  N.  Stanley;  Ninth,  G.  W.  Chilton,  chairman;  Tenth,  F.  S. 
Stockdale;  Eleventh,  A.  C.  Hill;  Twelfth,  T.  P.  Aycock;  Thir- 
teenth, -  -;  Fourteenth,  -  — ;  Fifteenth,  E.  T.  Branch; 
Sixteenth,  James  H.  Torbett;  Seventeenth,  J.  L.  Milam; 
Eighteenth,  J.  W.  Speight. 

The  platform,  as  submitted  by  this  committee  and  adopted  by 
the  convention,  indorsed  the  Cincinnati  platform ;  expressed  un- 
shaken faith  in  the  principles  enunciated  in  the  Virginia  and 
Kentucky  resolutions  of  1798-99;  readopted  the  Waco  platform; 
declared  the  Dred  Scott  decision  to  be  a  true  exposition  of  the 
Constitution ;  asserted  that  territorial  legislatures  had  no  right  to 
exclude  slavery  from  a  territory ;  and  expressed  opposition  to  the 
admission  of  States  not  having  sufficient  population  for  the  elec- 
tion of  one  representative.  The  sixth  plank  illustrates  Demo- 
cratic ideas  on  expansion  at  that  period,  and  is  given  in  full: 
"Sixth — That  the  Democracy  of  Texas  are  in  favor  of  the  acqui- 
sition of  Cuba,  and  that  we  regard  its  consummation  as  a  meas- 
ure which  self-protection  imperatively  demands,  should  be  pro- 
cured at  the  earliest  possible  time  compatible  with  national 
honor." 

Speaking  in  support  of  this  declaration,  Hon.  Matt  Ward,  one 
of  our  United  States  senators,  said :  "The  acquisition  of  Cuba 
is  a  necessity.  We  must  have  it,  and  we  will  have  it.  Spain  has 
not  been  insulted  by  the  proposition  to  buy,  and  she  is  not  going 
to  be  insulted." 

H.  R.  Runnels  was  put  in  nomination  for  Governor  by  W.  S. 
Day,  of  Austin.  The  first  ballot  gave  Runnels  294  votes  and 
Gregg  73.  Runnels'  nomination  was  then  made  unanimous. 

Judge  C.  W.  Buckley  having  nominated  F.  R.  Lubbock  for 
Lieutenant-Governor,  on  motion  the  nomination  was  made  by 
the  convention  by  acclamation. 

Called  on  for  a  speech,  I  made  a  short  address,  thanking  the 
convention  for  their  indorsement,  and  promising,  as  I  had  always 
been  a  Democrat,  to  continue  working  in  the  same  good  cause.27 

•'"Lieutenant-Governor  Lubbock  being  called  for,  took  the  stand 
and  made  one  of  his  thrilling  and  effective  speeches.  He  was  gratified  to 
be  indorsed  by  the  Democracy  of  the  Empire  State.  He  would  serve  his 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  245 


Chilton's  resolution  regarding  the  African  slave  trade  and 
Palmer's  substitute  were  both  tabled  after  a  full  and  fair  discus- 
sion— the  former  by  a  vote  of  228  to  81,  and  the  latter  by  a 
unanimous  vote. 

The  Congressional  convention  for  the  Western  district  met  at 
Houston  on  the  adjournment  of  the  State  convention. 

Gen.  T.  N.  Waul,  of  Gonzales,  having  led  John  A.  Wharton, 
W.  S.  Oldham,  and  Abel  Cunningham  for  several  ballots,  his 
nomination  was  made  unanimous  by  acclamation.  A.  J.  Hamil- 
ton was  his  opponent  on  the  Independent  ticket.  Hamilton  had 
been  a  prominent  Democrat  up  to  this  time.  He  was  a  man  of 
ability  and  a  powerful  debater,  and  his  defection  at  this  juncture 
proved  a  great  gain  to  the  Independents.  Still  the  Democracy 
had  no  fears  for  Waul,  who  had  ever  proved  an  able  champion 
for  the  party. 

The  convention  for  the  Eastern  district  met  at  Henderson, 
May  2d,  and  a  small  bolt  occurred  on  a  preliminary  question. 
This,  however,  had  no  material  effect,  as  the  main  body  of  the 
convention  stood  firm  and  renominated  Judge  John  H.  Eeagan, 
whose  course  in  Congress  had  been  entirely  acceptable  to  his  dis- 
trict and  State. 

In  a  circular  address  to  his  constituents,  the  judge  denounced 
the  heresies  of  filibusterism  and  the  reopening  of  the  African 
slave  trade,  and  claimed  to  be  a  National  Democrat,  devoted  to 
the  Constitution  and  the  Union,  desiring  no  new  tests  of  Demo- 
cratic faith. 

In  reply  to  an  open  letter  from  Montgomery,  dated  August 
22,  1859,  and  signed  by  John  M.  Ward,  Thomas  Goree,  and 
three  others,  Judge  Eeagan  said,  through  the  medium  of  a 
similar  letter,  published  in  the  public  prints :  "It  is  proper  for 
me  to  add  that  I  make  a  distinction  between  old-fashioned 
Democracy  and  such  Democracy  as  requires  an  adjective  to  de- 
scribe its  kind.  And  hence  I  have  no  sympathy  with  the  free- 
soil  Democracy  of  the  North  or  the  Southern-rights  Democracy 
of  the  South.  They  rest  on  different  philosophies  from  it,  and 

party  with  all  his  might.  He  was  proud  of  being  one  of  the  standard 
bearers.  He  had  always  been  a  Democrat  and  should  always  be,  and 
what  power  he  had  should  be  devoted  to  the  good  cause  of  Democracy. " 
— Telegraph. 


246  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


are  as  different  from  it  as  any  other  political  creeds  are  different 
from  each  other  (the  one  resting  on  national  patriotism,  and  the 
others  on  sectional  bigotry,  malice,  and  demagogy),  and  I  would 
not,  under  existing  circumstances,  act  with  either  of  these  sec- 
tional parties  or  vote  for  any  man  belonging  to  them.  .  .  . 
I  am  opposed  to  the  reopening  of  the  African  slave  trade,  to  fili- 
bustering, to  disunion  per  se,  and  the  formation  of  a  Southern 
Confederacy,  on  one  hand.  I  am,  on  the  other,  opposed  to  the 
idea  of  a  slavish  devotion  to  the  Union  under  a  violated  Consti- 
tution." 

Judge  Eeagan  was  opposed  by  W.  B.  Ochiltree,  an  able  lawyer 
and  debater.  A  late  convert  from  Whiggism  and  Know-Nothing- 
ism  to  Democracy,  he  had  now  abjured  the  faith  and  gone  back  to 
his  first  love,  whatever  that  was.  But  he  was  not  an  opponent  to 
be  despised,  as  the  canvass  soon  developed  his  capacity. 

The  Independents  charged  on  the  Democracy  the  design  of 
reopening  the  African  slave  trade.  The  approximate  unanimity 
with  which  the  convention  tabled  a  resolution  barely  squinting  in 
that  direction  should  have  convinced  all  honest-  minds  to  the  con- 
trary. Affecting,  however,  to  believe  the  charge  to  be  true,  the 
opposition  newspapers  kept  up  the  accusation,  as  it  was  a  win- 
ning card,  the  popular  disapproval  of  such  an  abomination  being 
well  known. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  convention,  Mr.  Flake,  editor  of  the  Gal- 
veston  Union,  in  a  letter  to  me  on  that  subject,  propounded  a 
series  of  questions,  to  which  I  replied,  June  25th,  as  follows: 

"In  answer  to  your  first  and  second  interrogatories,  'first,  Are 
you  in  favor  of  or  against  the  reopening  of  the  African  slave 
trade?'  and  'second,  Do  you  believe  the  law  which  declares  the 
African  slave  trade  piracy,  constitutional?'  I  beg  leave  to  state 
that,  in  accepting  the  nomination  of  the  Houston  convention,  I 
determined  to  confine  myself  to  the  platform  of  principles  enun- 
ciated by  said  convention.  I  approve  of  the  action  of  said  con- 
vention in  refusing  to  discuss  or  make  the  reopening  of  the 
African  slave  trade  an  issue,  and  shall  not  discuss  the  constitu- 
tionality or  policy  of  said  measure. 

"In  answer  to  your  third  interrogatory,  'Do  you  believe  that 
causes  now  exist  which  make  a  dissolution  of  the  Union  de- 
sirable?' I  say  'No.'  In  answer  to  your  fourth  interrogatory,  'Do 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  247 


you  believe  that  our  courts  ought  strictly  to  enforce  the  slave 
trade  piracy  law?'  I  say  that  every  law,  until  repealed  or  declared 
unconstitutional,  should  be  enforced  by  the  courts  of  the  coun- 
try." 

On  the  heels  of  my  published  letter  to  Flake  came  Governor 
Runnels'  expression  on  the  subject  to  John  Marshall,  chairman 
of  the  State  Executive  Committee,  as  follows : 

"I  cheerfully  reply  to  your  note  of  to-day  (June  27th)  that  I 
fully  indorse  the  sentiments  of  the  Hon.  F.  E.  Lubbock  in  his  let- 
ter to  F.  Flake,  Esq. 

"I  am  now,  as  I  have  ever  been,  for  the  Union  under  the  Con- 
stitution and  the  strict  maintenance  of  the  supremacy  of  the 
laws ;  and  I  do  not  consider  that  there  is  any  cause  for  a  dissolu- 
tion of  the  Union  at  this  time." 

Even  these  disclaimers  did  not  stop  the  racket,  which  kept  in- 
creasing during  the  canvass. 

There  had  been  a  strong  feeling  for  a  new  State  ticket.  Many 
of  the  best  informed  men  on  public  sentiment  declared  that  Run- 
nels could  not  beat  Houston  in  the  coming  race.  In  fact,  no  man 
with  a  record  could  resist  Houston's  assaults ;  and,  unfortunately, 
Runnels'  frontier  record  had,  through  slander  and  misrepre- 
sentations, already  been  condemned  in  the  West.  For  this  race 
a  new  man  was  needed  who  had  the  vim  to  attack  Houston's 
shaky  political  record  and  put  him  on  the  defensive.  The  African 
slave  trade  accusation,  though  entirely  false,  we  would  have  had 
to  carry  anyway  in  dealing  with  such  unscrupulous  political  ad- 
versaries. Runnels,  as  before,  did  but  little  canvassing.  He  had 
many  strong  friends  and  supporters,  but  he  was  no  match  for 
Houston  in  the  art  of  capturing  the  masses.  Besides,  Houston 
created  great  sympathy  by  his  well-timed  allusions  to  San  Ja- 
cinto,  and  he  had  many  able  and  popular  friends  canvassing  for 
him.  So  the  political  campaign  of  1859  opened  with  the  chances 
evidently  against  the  Democracy.  I  determined  to  make  the  best 
fight  possible. 

Promptly  appeared  this  card  on  time  in  all  the  anti-Demo- 
cratic newspapers : 

"Announce  Sam  Houston  as  a  National  Democrat,  a  consist- 
ent supporter  of  James  Buchanan  in  his  struggle  with  Black 


248  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


Kepublicans  and  the  little  less  dangerous  Fanatics  and  Higher- 
Law  men  at  the  South,  as  candidate  for  Governor." 

This  was  a  catchy  card,  well  calculated  to  draw  off  the  unwary 
and  Democrats  with  short  memories.  "Old  Sam"  was  now  out- 
Heroding  Herod  in  his  devotion  to  Democracy.  But  the  conver- 
sion of  the  great  Know-Nothing  leader  was  too  recent  to  avail 
him  much  on  that  line. 

In  his  letter  of  June  3d  to  Geo.  W.  Paschal,  who  had  lately 
quit  the  Democratic  party,  Houston  said : 

"The  Constitution  and  the  Union  embrace  the  principles  by 
which  I  will  be  governed  if  elected.  They  comprehend  all  the 
old  Jackson  National  Democracy  I  ever  professed  or  officially 
practiced." 

The  design  of  reopening  the  African  slave  trade  was  persist- 
ently charged  upon  the  Democracy  by  Houston  during  the  whole 
canvass,  and  that  without  any  evidence.  This  was  the  independ- 
ent's keynote,  supplemented  by  a  cry  for  better  frontier  protec- 
tion. 

Col.  Edward  Clark,  of  Marshall,  was  my  opponent  on  the 
Houston  ticket.  We  made  an  extensive  canvass  together,  and  I 
went  over  a  great  deal  of  country  without  him.  I  took  in  many 
counties  on  this  canvass  that  I  neglected  in  my  first,  particularly 
in  the  west  and  southwest. 

I  commenced  as  low  down  as  Montgomery,  next  went  to  Har- 
ris, visited  nearly  every  county  in  East  Texas,  and  traversed  the 
country  beween  the  Brazos  and  Trinity  rivers,  speaking  at  all 
the  principal  points  as  far  north  as  Dallas,  then  going  on  to 
Weatherford,  in  Parker  County.  At  that  time  this  was  on  the 
frontier,  subject  to  frequent  Indian  raids. 

Knowing  that  Governor  Runnels  was  not  popular  on  the  fron- 
tier, I  determined  to  give  the  border  counties  my  particular  at- 
tention. On  arriving  at  Weatherford,  I  was  informed  that  the 
prejudice  was  so  great  against  him  that  no  one  would  be  allowed 
to  speak  in  his  advocacy.  I,  however,  had  many  warm  friends 
there,  some  of  them  prominent  business  men.  At  the  appointed 
time  I  repaired  to  the  courthouse,  and  without  ceremony  com- 
menced my  speech,  to  a  good  audience,  by  stating  that  I  had 
come  there  to  advocate  the  personal  claims  of  no  man,  but  to 
speak  for  the  Democratic  ticket;  that  I  knew  I  would  be  heard; 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  249 


that  the  people  of  the  frontier  were  well  aware  that  I  had  ever 
been  their  friend,  and  had  advocated  on  all  occasions  their  ade- 
quate protection.  I  was  listened  to  in  the  most  respectful  and 
attentive  manner  and  was  assured  of  their  support. 

Leaving  Weatherford  I  went  toward  the  Colorado.  After  trav- 
eling a  distance  of  more  than  one  hundred  miles  along  the  fron 
tier,  making  addresses  at  the  intermediate  points,  I  arrived  at 
Burnet.  After  speaking  there  I  desired  to  go  to  Llano,  Gillespie, 
and  other  exposed  counties.  It  will  be  borne  in  mind  that  my 
wife  was  also  with  me  on  this  extensive  and  hard  trip.  I  was 
cautioned  and  told  that  it  was  not  safe  to  proceed ;  that  the  In- 
dians were  making  frequent  raids  into  that  country.  Upon  my 
persisting  in  going,  three  young  men  offered  to  go  with  us: 
Adam  E.  Johnson,  now  of  Burnet ;  Colonel  Bradford,  of  Belton, 
and  Neil  Helm,  who  I  believe  is  dead.  They  accompanied  me, 
and  while  we  encountered  no  Indians,  there  were,  they  said, 
plenty  of  fresh  signs — among  others  we  discovered  a  beef  with 
an  arrow  recently  shot  into  him.  I  am  pleased  to  know  that  the 
friendships  formed  with  those  three  young  men  were  true,  and  I 
have  had  from  that  day,  feven  to  the  present  time,  no  warmer 
friends  than  the  two  survivors. 

I  had  rather  a  queer  but  interesting  time  at  Llano,  then  just 
being  built  up.  On  my  reaching  there,  I  went  into  the  lone  store 
house  and  inquired  if  they  could  direct  me  to  the  hotel,  inform- 
ing them  who  I  was  and  my  object  in  visiting  them.  A  gentle- 
man in  the  store  observed  that  there  was  no  place  to  stop;  that 
he  had  a  very  humble  home,  and  would  be  pleased  to  accommo- 
date us.  I  of  course  thanked  him,  and  we  drove  across  the  river 
and  were  given  a  small  shedroom,  built  of  three-foot  boards,  used 
as  a  storeroom.  I  had  lived  in  just  such  a  house  when  I  located 
in  Houston.  We  were  made  entirely  comfortable  and  welcome, 
passing  a  pleasant  night.  Next  morning  quite  a  number  of 
people  came  in  to  hear  the  speaking,  for  it  had  been  well  adver- 
tised, and  I  was  to  be  met  by  a  young  lawyer,  Mr.  Posey,  who 
practiced  law  in  that  district.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  General 
Houston,  and  supporting  the  opposition  ticket.  Before  the 
speaking,  and  while  in  conversation  with  quite  a  number  of  per- 
sons, all  of  whom  were  strangers  to  me,  a  large  fine-looking  fel- 
low inquired  if  I  was  kin  to  the  Lubbocks  at  Houston.  Not 


250  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


knowing  the  object  of  the  question  I  parried  a  little  and  let  him 
go  on.  He  stated  that,  on  landing  at  Houston  from  Tennessee 
with  his  family,  he  got  into  a  difficulty  with  a  bully  on  the  wharf 
about  his  effects,  and,  to  use  his  expression,  "we  hitched."  I 
knew  the  man  well  that  he  "hitched"  with,  had  soldiered  with 
him,  and  he  was  known  as  "Bully  Smith."  He  went  on  to  say 
that  "the  crowd  was  with  the  bully  as  long  as  he  appeared  to 
have  the  best  of  the  fight.  As  soon,  however,  as  I  commenced 
putting  in  good  licks  they  were  for  interfering.  But  a  young 
fellow  then  appeared,  demanded  'hands  off,'  and  said:  'I  have 
been  looking  on,  and  now  this  stranger  shall  have  a  fair  fight, 
or  I  propose  to  take  a  hand.'  I  soon  conquered  the  bully.  About 
this  time  the  police  had  arrived,  and  we  were  marched  up  to  the 
station.  The  justice  of  the  peace  said  it  was  too  late  to  go  into 
an  investigation,  and  required  bail  for  my  appearance  next  morn- 
ing. The  young  fellow  stepped  up  and  stood  my  security  that  I 
would  appear.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  I  found  that  his  name 
was  Lubbock.  When  the  case  was  called  in  the  morning,  Lub- 
bock  was  there,  and  his  testimony  cleared  me,  without  expense, 
and  I  departed  from  the  city  of  Houston.  So,  you  know,  I  like 
the  name."  I  then  said  to  him :  "That  Lubbock  is  my  brother, 
next  to  me."  He  then  remarked:  "My  name  is  McCoy.  I  am 
the  sheriff  of  Llano  County,  and  you  can  bet  I  am  for  Lubbock." 

Posey  opened  the  debate.  I  well  recollect  how  he  began.  After 
paying  a  compliment  to  the  people  of  the  frontier,  he  told  them : 
"I  am  to  be  followed  by  a  man  who,  when  he  begins,  you  will 
see  possesses  an  affidavit  countenance,  and  I  caution  you  not  to 
believe  everything  he  tells  you,  for  he  is  a  politician  and  a  can- 
didate for  office."  It  was  the  first  time  I  ever  heard  of  an  affida- 
vit countenance,  and  I  was  pleased  to  understand  that  it  meant 
the  earnest,  honest  countenance  of  a  man  who  believes  he  is  tell- 
ing the  truth. 

We  had  a  pleasant  and  agreeable  time,  and  I  have  never  re- 
gretted visiting  that  beautiful  country,  then  wild  and  wholly 
undeveloped,  but  now  soon,  I  trust,  to  become  a  locality  of  great 
attraction  and  importance,  caused  by  the  great  wealth  of  her 
iron  ores,  her  granite  and  marble  quarries,  and  her  delightful 
and  healthy  location  and  climate. 

From  Llano  I  visited  my  German  friends  of  Fredericksburg, 


LUBBOC1CB  MEMOIRS.  251 


Gillespie  County,  and  then  New  Braunfels.  At  these  points  I 
was  a  very  welcome  visitor.  Many  of  the  citizens  knew  of  my 
active  canvass  against  the  Know-Nothings,  and  they  appeared 
to  appreciate  the  stand  I  had  taken  against  that  secret  society. 
I  then  proceeded  to  San  Antonio.  At  this  place  we  had  a  battle 
royal — Clark  and  myself  and  the  opposing  candidates  for  Con- 
gress, Gen.  T.  N.  Waul  and  A.  J.  Hamilton — "Colossal  Jack," 
as  he  was  called,  in  compliment  to  his  big  brain. 

After  leaving  San  Antonio  we  visited  Seguin.  Here  we  had 
a  big  time;  the  people  came  from  several  counties  to  hear  the 
speaking.  I  was  particularly  happy  at  this  place.  It  was  well 
known  to  all  Texas  that  I  had  fought  the  Know-Nothings  and 
that  Clark  had  belonged  to  the  order.  Thus  the  Germans  were 
in  sympathy  with  me  and  they  invariably  showed  it  at  our  speak- 
ing. Clark  realized  it  at  this  place,  and  I  was  guilty  of  treat- 
ing him  inconsiderately.  While  speaking,  he  would  look  at  his 
watch  frequently,  appearing  anxious  for  his  time  to  expire. 
While  he  was  examining  his  watch  I  drew  out  mine  and  said: 
"Colonel,  you  have  twenty  minutes  yet  to  speak;  do  not  hurry. 
If  that  is  not  sufficient,  you  can  go  on;  it  will  make  no  differ- 
ence to  me."  It  created  quite  a  laugh  and  disconcerted  him,  and 
he  sat  down  in  less  than  five  minutes.  It  was  mean  of  me,  for 
Clark  was  a  very  polite  and  elegant  opponent.  From  this  place 
we  went  to  Austin  and  thence  down  the  Colorado. 

While  I  was  on  this  canvass,  the  Palestine  Advocate  got  off 
this  yarn  on  me :  "There  is  a  good  joke  told  on  Frank  Lubbock, 
our  worthy  Lieutenant-Governor.  He  has  lately  purchased  two 
fine  but  fancy  horses  of  the  calico  stripe,  and  as  he  came  up  from 
Houston  he  was  taken  for  a  bill  sticker  for  a  circus,  and  all  the 
little  boys  were  asking  him  when  the  circus  would  be  along,  and 
whether  his  circus  had  any  animals.  He  gave  them  the  neces- 
sary information,  and  report  says,  promised  them  all  free 
tickets." 

I  did  drive  a  pair  of  spanking  spotted  horses  on  this  canvass, 
and  who  could  blame  the  little  fellows  for  taking  me  for  the  ad- 
vance agent  of  a  circus  ? 

An  amusing  circumstance  occurred  at  Cameron,  in  Milam 
County,  during  our  canvass.  Colonel  Clark  invariably  charged 
that  I  was  an  extremist,  and  he  ventured  at  this  place  to  go  so  far 


252  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


as  to  say  that  it  was  reported  that  I  favored  the  reopening  of 
the  African  slave  trade,  and  that  it  had  been  whispered  that 
I  had  at  one  time  imported  negroes.  In  replying,  I  said  that  I 
was  surprised  that  my  distinguished  opponent  would  venture  on 
such  an  assertion  without  being  able  to  present  some  proof ;  that 
I  would  assure  the  gentleman  and  the  people  that  I  was  not  in 
favor  of  reopening  the  African  slave  trade ;  that  it  was  a  slander 
upon  me;  that,  however,  I  would  plead  guilty  to  the  charge  of 
having  imported  negroes;  that  I  did  so  through  a  Yankee,  and 
obtained  them  from  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  I  would  make 
a  clean  breast  and  tell  them  all  about  it  now. 

"I  have  a  ranch  near  Houston  on  the  public  road  greatly  trav- 
eled. My  negro  force  is  small ;  friends  ride  up ;  I  wish  to  be  po- 
lite and  hospitable,  and  frequently  I  have  to  call  a  servant  from 
important  work,  and  quite  often  one  was  not  to  be  had.  So  I 
conceived  the  idea  of  having  one  negro  that  I  could  rely  on, 
and  disclosing  my  plan  to  a  friend  of  mine,  he  begged  that  I 
would  get  one  for  him,  and  I  ordered  two  cast-iron  negroes,  so 
that  he  and  I  would  have  a  boy  at  the  gate  at  all  times,  day  and 
night,  to  receive  our  visitors  and  take  care  of  their  horses. 

"Fellow  citizens,  I  assure  you  that  these  are  the  only  two  ne- 
groes I  have  imported,"  and  turning  to  the  colonel,  I  said :  "You 
have  been  badly  sold  by  some  one ;  I  don't  think  you  will  bother 
me  any  more  with  this  charge."  The  effect  of  this  could  only 
be  appreciated  by  those  who  witnessed  it.  The  audience  laughed 
and  yelled  and  screamed,  and  Colonel  Clark  thenceforth  dropped 
the  African  negro  from  his  program. 

In  this  second  canvass  for  Lieutenant-Governor,  at  Lockhart, 
in  Caldwell  County,  Col.  Wash  Jones,  then  a  candidate  for  the 
State  Senate,  was  also  booked  for  a  speech  on  the  same  day.  Col. 
Jack  Wilcox,  one  of  the  best  speakers  in  the  State,  was  there  to 
represent  General  Houston.  We  had  a  large  gathering  of  the 
country  people.  Colonel  Wilcox  made  one  of  his  very  forcible 
speeches  in  support  of  General  Houston,  and  had  to  a  great  ex- 
tent the  sympathies  of  the  audience,  particularly  the  ladies,  who 
were  out  in  largo  numbers. 

In  speaking  of  Sam  Houston's  great  services  to  the  people  he 
was  very  eloquent  at  times,  and  after  saying  many  beautiful 
things,  he  concluded  by  telling  the  audience  that,  in  after  years, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS  253 


when  the  history  of  Texas  is  written  and  the  school  books  pub- 
lished for  the  children,  the  name  of  Sam  Houston  will  appear 
in  every  page  of  history  and  all  through  the  school  books  for  the 
edification  and  instruction  of  the  children.  "But,  ladies  and 
gentlemen,"  said  he,  "do  you  suppose  that  the  name  of  little 
'Dickey'  Eunnels  will  ever  appear  on  the  pages  of  these  books, 
or  that  little  'Dickey'  will  ever  be  heard  of  ?"  Of  course  the  sup- 
porters of  Houston  had  a  good  laugh  at  this  witicism  at  the  ex- 
pense of  little  'Dickey'  and  his  friends. 

Col.  Wash.  Jones  followed  in  one  of  his  masterly  efforts  in  sup- 
port of  himself  for  the  State  Senate,  and  also  advocating  the  en- 
tire Democratic  ticket.  On  that  day  he  well  sustained  his  reputa- 
tion as  one  of  the  ablest  debaters  and  best  informed  men  in  the 
State.  He  admitted  that  Sam  Houston  was  a  great  man  and  a 
patriot,  and  deserved  well  of  the  people;  but  he  went  on  to  say 
and  prove  that  he  had  separated  himself  from  the  Democratic 
party,  and  consequently  could  not  be  supported  by  Democrats. 
He  admitted  that  the  name  of  Sam  Houston  would  be  conspicu- 
ous on  the  pages  of  history,  and  doubtless  the  school  books  would 
have  his  name  emblazoned  in  large  print  for  the  benefit  of  school 
children,  and  they  would  be  taught  to  love  and  revere  his  mem- 
ory. "But,"  Colonel  Jones  continued,  "I  wish  to  say  to  Colonel 
Wilcox  and  you  ladies  and  gentlemen,  that  history  and  school 
books  are  presumed  to  be  truthful,  and  when  Colonel  Wilcox  says 
that  little  'Dickey'  Eunnels'  name  will  not  appear  he  is  simply 
slandering  the  historical  writers  and  the  authors  of  the  school 
books,  for  when  they  come  to  tell  the  truthful  story  they  will 
have  to  write  down  that  Hardin  Richard  Runnels  was  an  able 
legislator,  that  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  that  he  was 
.the  same  little  'Dickey'  Runnels  that  beat  the  great  and  illus- 
trious Sam  Houston  for  Governor  of  the  State  of  Texas  over  nine 
thousand  votes. 

"Now,  ladies,  and  gentlemen,  will  not  the  school  children  rise 
in  their  seats  and  proclaim  what  a  mighty  man  this  little  'Dickey' 
must  have  been  to  have  beaten  Sam  Houston  for  Governor  nine 
thousand  votes." 

At  the  same  speaking  I  had  waited  a  long  while  for  my  time 
to  come.  Colonel  Wilcox,  who  made  a  very  impassioned  speech, 


254  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


at  times  would  quit  the  stand,  walk  down  the  aisle  of  the  build- 
ing, counseling  every  one  to  support  Houston,  and  would  call 
upon  the  ladies  as  they  do  at  a  camp  meeting.  (He  had  been  a 
preacher. ) 

On  reaching  the  platform  and  before  commencing  my  speech, 
I  poured  from  the  pitcher  that  Colonel  Wilcox  had  been  using 
what  I  supposed  to  be  water,  that  I  might  moisten  my  lips.  Upon 
taking  a  mouthful  I  at  once  discovered  that  it  was  the  strong- 
est white  whisky.  I  stepped  quickly  to  the  edge  of  the  platform 
upon  which  I  was  standing,  and  spitting  the  stuff  upon  the  floor, 
apologized  to  the  audience  by  saying:  "I  can  not  swallow  that 
kind  of  firewater,  and  I  can  now  understand  why  my  friend 
Colonel  Wilcox  has  been  so  enthused,  even,  to  making  him  de- 
scend from  the  platform  during  his  speech  to  get  nearer  the 
audience  with  his  eloquence." 

But  in  spite  of  all  our  efforts  the  Democratic  ticket  was  beaten 
from  top  to  bottom,  Houston  getting  36,327  votes  for  Governor, 
and  Runnels  27,900;  Clark  31,458  for  Lieutenant-Governor, 
and  Lubbock  30,325. 

It  was  an  ably  planned  campaign  by  the  enemy  and  well  car- 
ried out;  but  from  start  to  finish  the  Democracy  was  on  the  de- 
fensive about  the  frontier  and  the  African  slave  trade. 

While  I  was  beaten  in  this  race  it  was  certainly  quite  flatter- 
tering  to  me  that  the  frontier  country  generally  supported  me 
and  that  I  ran  several  thousand  votes  ahead  of  my  ticket,  and  was 
only  defeated  by  a  few  hundred  votes  by  my  opponent.  I  had 
a  good  time,  enjoyed  the  canvass,  made  thousands  of  friends, 
and  the  men  who  supported  me  then  have  brought  up  sons  and 
grandsons  that  have  to  this  day  been  my  friends  and  supporters. 
I  had  been  steadily  in  the  canvass  from  May  until  August,  and 
after  the  excitement  was  over  my  wife  and  myself,  pretty  well 
tired  out,  sought  rest  at  Kellums  Springs,  in  Grimes  County, 
near  Xavasota. 

The  Eighth  Legislature  met  at  Austin  on  November  7,  1859. 

I  presided  in  the  organization  of  the  Senate.  There  was  a  tie 
vote  between  two  of  my  friends  for  secretary — Sinclair,  of  Aus- 
tin, and  Tom  Johnson,  who  lived  elsewhere.  I  decided  the  con- 
test by  voting  for  Tom  Johnson,  on  the  ground  that  all  the  offices, 
or  an  undue  share  of  them,  should  not  be  given  to  residents  of 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  255 


the  capital  city.  As  both  were  good  men  and  good  Democrats,  I 
could  see  no  other  way  of  deciding  the  matter.  Tom  highly  en- 
joyed my  decision,  as  it  saved  him  by  the  skin  of  his  teeth.. 

In  his  message,  Governor  Eunnels  regretted  the  unsatisfactory 
condition  of  the  frontier,  and  explained  what  he  had  done  to 
remedy  the  troubles  at  the  Brazos  agency,  in  which  several  re- 
serve Indians  were  killed  on  the  night  of  the  27th  of  December, 
1858. 

"After  being  informed  by  Captain  Eoss  of  further  hostile 
demonstrations,"  said  the  Governor,  "I  issued  an  address  warn- 
ing the  people  in  the  neighborhood  against  any  rash  act  on  their 
part. 

"As  a  means  for  restoring  quiet  and  quelling  the  existing  ex- 
citement, I  appointed  a  board  of  peace  commissioners,  consisting 
of  J.  M.  Steiner  of  Travis,  Colonel  John  Henry  Brown  of  Bell, 
Hon.  George  B.  Erath,  Capt.  J.  M.  Smith,  and  Kichard  Coke, 
Esq.,  of  McLennan,  with  instructions,  bearing  date  of  June  6, 
1859,  to  proceed  to  the  scene  of  disturbance  and  to  investigate 
its  causes,  with  authority,  if  expedient,  to  place  a  guard  of  one 
hundred  men  around  the  reserve  until  such  time  as  the  Indians 
should  be  removed  without  the  limits  of  the  State. 

"Their  report  discloses  facts  which  go  far  to  prove  that  our 
citizens  were  not  without  just  cause  of  complaint,  as  much  as 
the  violent  measures  of  redress  adopted  by  them  may  be  re- 
gretted. 

"The  State  government  is  in  no  manner  responsible  for  the  un- 
fortunate and  deplorable  state  of  affairs  on  the  frontier.  The 
remedy  has  not  been  within  the  reach  of  its  authorities.  I  found 
it  a  difficulty,  and  perhaps  the  most  serious  with  which  I  should 
have  to  contend,  on  coming  into  office.  It  has  proved  to  be  so, 
and  if  it  has  been  impossible  for  most  obvious  reasons  to  give 
satisfction,  it  has  been  for  no  want  of  the  most  faithful  en- 
deavor to  meet  the  difficulty.  ...  I  am  content  to  leave 
the  further  solution  and  management  of  this  question  to  the  Leg- 
islature and  the  able  gentleman  who  has  been  chosen  to  suc- 
ceed me." 

It  only  remains  to  add  that  Governor  Eunnels  finally  secured 
the  removal  of  the  reserve  Indians  to  the  Indian  Territory  by 
Maj.  Geo.  H.  Thomas,  then  commanding  at  Belknap.  But  even 


256  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


that  did  not  give  entire  satisfaction,  and  Major  Neighbors,  the 
Indian  agent  who  had  attended  the  Indians  out  of  Texas,  was 
foully  murdered  on  his  return  home. 

No  one  thinks  of  blaming  Governor  Runnels  now  for  his 
failure  to  keep  the  peace  on  the  frontier,  no  more  than  they  think 
of  blaming  Governor  Houston  for  his  failure  to  meet  the  ex- 
pectations. Runnels  was  simply  the  victim  of  misrepresentation. 
As  D.  B.  Culberson  in  his  bout  with  Mabry  in  the  House  ex- 
pressed it,  "You  have  impaled  upon  a  halberd  of  slander  the  best 
Governor  this  State  ever  had." 

Thos.  P.  Ochiltree,  correspondent  of  the  Texas  Republican, 
wrote  from  Austin,  November  13  : 

"Gen.  Sam  Houston  is  in  the  city,  stopping  at  Scott's  Hotel. 
He  was  serenaded  by  a  party  of  his  friends  yesterday  evening. 
He  responded  in  a  short  speech,  after  which  Col.  Ed.  Clark  and 
Hon.  Eli  Baxter  addressed  the  meeting. 

"Gen.  A.  J.  Hamilton,  member  of  Congress-elect  from  this  dis- 
trict, starts  to  the  Federal  capital  on  the  18th  inst.  General 
Hamilton  is  a  man  of  marked  ability,  but  his  views  on  Federal 
politics  are  not  suited  to  a  representative  of  a  Southern  State. 
He  indorses  Douglas  throughout  in  his  magazine  article. 

"The  message  of  his  excellency  Governor  Runnels  meets  with 
universal  satisfaction  among  the  Democracy.  His  views  upon 
State  policy  (except  as  to  the  S.  P.  R.  R.)  meets  with  hearty  ap- 
probation and  support. 

"Dr.  M.  D.  K.  Taylor,  the  Speaker-elect,  is  one  of  the  finest 
presiding  officers  I  have  seen,  and  universally  popular. 

"I  regret  to  say  that  Mr.  Culberson  (D.  B.),  from  Upshur,  in- 
tends introducing  a  bill  to  abrogate  or  repeal  the  charter  of  the 
Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Company. 

"For  the  United  States  Senate,  Colonels  Wigfall,  Ward,  and 
Johnson  are  the  most  prominent  candidates.  The  names  of 
Hons.  L.  D.  Evans,  M.  J.  Hall,  Geo.  W.  Smyth,  D.  M.  Graham, 
and  a  few  others  are  spoken  of  by  their  respective  friends.  Quien 
sabe?" 

A  new  United  States  Senator  was  to  be  elected  to  fill  the  un- 
expired  term  of  J.  P.  Henderson,  deceased,  as  Matt  Ward  had 
been  appointed  to  act  only  till  the  meeting  of  this  Legislature. 

The  opposition,  dreading  the  election  of  L.  T.  Wigfall,  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  257 


only  man  who  ever  proved  a  match  for  Houston  in  debate,  tried 
to  break  a  quorum  and  thus  stave  off  his  election,  but  in  vain, 
and  then  after  balloting  began  interposed  all  manner  of  dilatory 
motions. 

At  the  appointed  time  for  a  joint  session,  on  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber, I  appeared  in  the  House  at  the  head  of  the  Senate  and  took 
my  seat  by  invitation  on  the  right  of  the  Speaker,  while  the  Sena- 
tors were  seated  in  the  places  prepared  for  them.  A  quorum  ap- 
peared on  roll  call,  and  nominations  were  made  as  follows : 

Louis  T.  Wigfall,  of  Harrison,  by  Senator  Britten;  Geo.  W. 
Smyth,  of  Jasper,  by  Senator  Grimes;  Matt  Ward,  of  Cass,  by 
Senator  Mabry;  W.  P.  Hill,  of  Harrison,  by  Senator  Martin;  A. 
H.  Latimer,  of  Eed  Eiver,  by  Senator  Taylor  (Bob). 

The  balloting  resulted  as  follows : 

First.         Second.       Third, 

Wigfall    59  59  60 

Smyth    25  23  13 

Ward  7  5  1 

Hill    6  6  4 

Latimer 15  20  26. 

Graham 2  1  1 

Roberts    6  5  12 

Sparks 1  0  0 

Jarvis    0  1  0 

Morgan    0  0  1 

Mr.  Wigfall  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  the  votes 
cast,  was  declared  elected  United  States  Senator  from  Texas  to 
fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  J.  P.  Henderson. 

The  announcement  of  the  result  caused  the  wildest  enthusiasm 
among  the  Democrats  and  corresponding  rage  among  the  ad- 
herents of  Houston.  The  election  of  Wigfall,  Houston's  ablest 
rival,  to  this  office,  showed  clearly  the  ruling  power  in  Texas. 

Immediately  after  his  election  Senator  Wigfall  addressed  the 
Legislature  in  substance  as  follows :  He  was  a  Southern  rights 
man,  a  State's  rights  man,  and  a  Democrat.  The  Democratic 
party  stood  by  the  Constitution.  It  fixed  itself  upon  it  in  the 
discussion  of  every  question.  Slave  property  was  entitled  to  pro- 
17 


258  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tection  in  the  territories,  because  all  property  under  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  Union  was  entitled  to  protection.  And  he  would 
say  that  if  it  was  ascertained  that  a  people  of  a  territory  would 
not  protect  property,  he  would  deprive  them  of  the  power  of  self- 
government.  He  endorsed  the  Democratic  platform  of  Cincin- 
nati ;  he  stood  on  the  platform  as  endorsed  at  Waco  and  at  Hous- 
ton, and  any  man  standing  on  that  platform  and  co-operating 
in  the  organization  of  the  Democratic  party,  he  recognized  as  a 
Democrat — none  other.  No  man  could  be  a  Democrat  who  did 
not  hold  to  the  doctrine  of  the  strict  construction  and  the  doc- 
trines embodied  in  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  resolutions.  He 
did  not  believe  in  the  divine  right  of  kings ;  nor  did  he  believe  in 
""the  divine  right  of  a  Union  without  a  Constitution." 

Mr.  Wigfall  was  undoubtedly  the  clearest  expounder  of  the 
political  doctrines  of  Mr.  Calhoun  in  Texas. 

No  man  could  have  been  more  obnoxious  than  Wigfall  to 
Houston  personally  or  to  his  party.  They  finally  tried  to  set 
aside  his  election  on  constitutional  grounds,  holding  that  the 
Legislature  could  not  elect  one  of  their  body  to  the  United  States 
Senate.  The  question  raised  was  referred  to  a  committee.  The 
majority  report,  after  a  long  constitutional  argument  in  favor 
of  a  State  senator's  eligibility  to  the  United  States  Senate,  and 
citation  of  authorities,  concludes  thus :  "The  Constitution  of  the 
State  did  not  intend  to  embrace  the  office  of  United  States  Sena- 
tor in  the  section  under  consideration.  ...  In  this  view  of 
the  subject,  the  majority  of  your  committee  is  fully  confirmed 
by  the  action  of  the  distinguished  statesman,  Rusk,  in  the  United 
States  Senate  upon  the  contested  seat  of  Mr.  Trumbull,  of  Illi- 
nois, who  when  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  was  a  State 
senator.  The  Constitution  of  Illinois  contained  a  similar  pro- 
vision to  the  one  under  consideration,  and  yet  the  most  distin- 
guished jurists  in  the  American  Senate  held  the  provision  in- 
applicable to  the  office  of  United  States  Senator." 

On  that  occasion,  both  Eusk  and  Houston  voted  for  the  ad- 
mission of  Mr.  Trumbull  to  the  United  States  Senate,  an'd  he 
was  seated. 

Besides  all  this,  T  should  have  stated  that  Wigfall  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  State  Senate  before  the  balloting  began  for  United 
States  Senator. 


LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  259 


The  Runnels  administration  closed  with  the  valedictories  of 
the  Governor  and  myself.28 

On  December  21,  1859,  Sam  Houston  delivered  his  inaugural 
address  from  the  front  portico  of  the  capitol  to  an  immense  con- 
course of  people. 

His  utterances  on  our  relations  to  the  Union  were  what  might 
have  been  expected,  opposed  to  secession  in  any  event.  Toler- 
ance of  difference  of  political  opinion  he  thought  a  duty;  but 
when  thought  becomes  treason,  the  traitor  is  as  much  the  enemy 
of  one  section  as  the  other.  Extremists  North  and  South  were 
rebuked  alike  by  the  Governor  saying  on  that  point :  "Half  the 
care — half  the  thought — which  has  been  spent  in  meeting  sec- 
tionalism by  sectionalism,  and  bitterness  by  bitterness,  and  abo- 
litionism by  disunion,  would  have  made  this  people  a  happy, 
united  and  hopeful  nation." 

Houston's  frontier  policy  was  to  temper  military  force  with 
moral  suasion — to  overawe  the  Indians  by  a  display  of  soldiers 
and  at  the  same  time  to  gain  their  good  will  by  presents.  The 
Texas  Indians  had  been  drawing  their  annuities  by  way  of  Ar- 
kansas, and  had  thereby  been  led  to  believe  that  they  were  not 
obliged  to  keep  the  peace  in  Texas.  The  Indians  should  get 
their  annuities  in  Texas;  they  should  be  collected  together  in  a 
great  council  and  renew  their  treaties  with  the  Texans.  And  it 
would  be  advisable  to  distribute  presents  among  them. 

This  was  Houston's  Indian  policy  during  the  Republic,  and  it 
was  bitterly  disappointing  to  the  frontiersmen,  who  expected, 
from  the  promises  made  in  the  canvass  for  governor,  a  vigorous 
Indian  policy.  But  judging  from  Houston's  antecedents,  they 
had  no  right. to  expect  any  but  a  temporizing  policy  against  the 
Indians. 

The  Rio  Grande  frontier  was  also  being  raided,  and  the  Fed- 
eral government  was  called  upon  for  protection,  and  aid  was 
promptly  given  by  Major  Heintzleman.  But  CoL  Ford  had  al- 

28  The  Texas  Republican,  in  editorially  commenting  on  Governor 
Lubbock's  valedictory  utterances, 'said: 

"Mr.  Lubbock  is  concise,  graceful,  modest  and  dignified.  He  recom- 
mends efficient  frontier  protection,  favors  our  present  system  of  internal 
improvements,  and  looks  for  the  happiest  results  by  continuing  our  lib- 
eral railroad  policy." — ED. 


260  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


ready  driven  Cortina  across  the  Eio  Grande.  Commissions  were 
issued  to  raise  companies  for  the  northwestern  frontier,  where 
the  great  trouble  had  been,  and  then  a  frontier  regiment  was 
authorized.  A  new  militia  law  was  enacted  to  meet  the  emer- 
gencies. 

Indian  hostilities,  however,  did  not  abate,  but  rather  grew 
worse.  Then  Houston,  like  Runnels,  had  to  stand  his  share  of 
abuse. 

The  resolutions  of  Dr.  R.  G.  Worrall  of  Jacksboro,  adopted  by 
the  Democratic  State  convention  at  Galveston,  in  April,  1860, 
well  express  the  public  sentiment  on  frontier  protection.  They 
are  given  below : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  the  Democratic  party  of  Texas,  looking 
to  the  actual  Indian  war  on  our  frontier,  to  the  ruthless  murder 
of  men,  women,  and  children  and  the  enormous  destruction  and 
robbing  of  property,  stands  pledged  to  sustain  the  most  efficient 
and  active  warfare  against  the  savage  enemy ;  that  they  approve 
of  the  appropriation  of  over  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  by 
the  late  Legislature  for  frontier  protection,  and  demand  of  the 
Governor  of  the  State  that  it  shall  be  expended  in  an  active, 
efficient,  and  offensive  war  with  the  Indians,  and  not  frittered 
away  in  temporizing  expedients  or  in  buying  treaties  by  means 
of  presents,  annuities,  or  any  other  mode  of  consummating  a 
treaty  with  treacherous  savages." 

The  other  resolutions  were  in  substance  as  follows : 

2.  All  Indians  in  Texas  are  hostile,  and  should  be  extermi- 
nated or  expelled  from  the  State. 

3.  It  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  government  to  do  this,  but 
the  State  must  do  it  if  not  done  otherwise. 

4.  The  frontier  must  not  be  contracted. 

The  Democratic  State  convention  at  Galveston  met  in  the 
courthouse  at  11 :30  a.  m.,  April  2,  1860.  Major  Marshall,  chair- 
man of  the  State  Central  Committee,  called  the  house  to  order. 
Mr.  Thomas  P.  Oehiltree  acted  as  secretary.  After  prayer  by 
Rev.  D.  McXair,  Major  Marshall  addressed  the  convention,  tak- 
ing a  brief  view  of  the  present  extraordinary  political  condition 
of  the  country,  and  expressing  his  opinion  that  there  never  was 
a  time  when  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  protection  of 
the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  South  depended  so  much  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  261 


Democratic  party  as  at  the  present  alarming  crisis.  His  address 
was  received  with  great  applause. 

A  committee  on  credentials  was  then  appointed  consisting  of 
twenty  members,  one  from  each  judicial  district.  At  4  p.  m. 
the  committee  reported  seventy-six  counties  represented  by  dele- 
gates on  the  floor. 

The  committee  appointed  to  report  upon  the  charges  made 
against  W.  W.  Leland,  delegate  from  Karnes  County,  reported 
that  Mr.  Leland  admitted  having  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont, 
and  having  been  a  Black  Republican  about  a  year  before  coming 
to  Texas,  but  that  since  having  arrived  in  Texas  he  had  become 
a  Democrat.  It  was  then  moved  by  Mr.  Schoolfield  of  Walker, 
that  said  W.  W.  Leland  should  be  expelled  from  the  convention. 
The  motion  was  put  and  carried  unanimously.  Colonel  Lewis 
of  Washington  then  moved  that  the  resolution  should  be  recon- 
sidered, as  he  believed  it  due  to  the  convention  not  to  condemn 
a  man  without  a  hearing.  Considerable  discussion  was  had  upon 
this  motion.  General  Waul  finally  arose  and  referred  to  the 
action  taken  by  the  Democratic  convention  in  Austin  in  1856  on 
the  application  of  Mr.  L.  Sherwood  of  Galveston  for  a  seat  in 
that  convention,  which  application  was  rejected.  A  motion  was 
then  made  that  Mr.  Sherwood  should  be  heard  in  his  own  de- 
fense, and  this  motion  was  also  rejected.  Colonel  Lewis  then 
withdrew  his  motion  for  reconsideration. 

J.  D.  Stell,  F.  B.  Sexton,  and  John  W.  Dancy  were  put  in 
nomination  for  president  of  the  convention.  The  vote  taken  by 
counties  resulted  thus:'  Stell,  38;  Sexton,  94;  Dancy,  91.  Stell's 
name  was  then  withdrawn. 

The  vote  was  again  taken,  and  it  was  found  that  Sexton  had 
received  122  and  Dancy  119.  The  chair  then  announced  that 
Sexton  was  duly  elected. 

Colonel  Sexton  was  then  conducted  to  the  chair,  and  made 
a  most  appropriate  and  eloquent  address.  The  following  were 
elected  vice-presidents :  Messrs.  Gaines,  Bryan,  Brownrigg,  Pitts, 
Woodward,  and  Branch. 

Thos.  P.  Ochiltree  was  elected  secretary  of  the  convention  by 
acclamation.  Davis  and  Hepperla  were  elected  assistant  secre- 
taries. 

The  committee  on  credentials  then  made  a  report  that  they 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


had  found  two  sets  of  credentials  from  two  separate  meetings  in 
Jasper  County.  The  one  meeting  was  called  as  a  Democratic 
meeting,  and  passed  resolutions  reaffirming  the  Cincinnati  plat- 
form and  the  several  Democratic  platforms  of  this  State,  and  also 
repudiating  the  doctrine  of  Squatter  Sovereignty  as  advocated 
by  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  The  other  was  called  as  a  citizens'  meet- 
ing, and  it  took  no  action  recognizing  or  endorsing  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democratic  party.  The  committee  therefore  recom- 
mended admitting  to  a  seat  in  the  convention  the  delegate  sent 
by  the  first  or  Democratic  meeting,  and  rejected  the  application 
of  the  delegate  from  the  other  meeting.  The  report  was  adopted. 

It  was  carried,  on  my  motion,  that  the  rules  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  of  this  State  be  adopted  as  the  rules  to  govern 
the  convention,  as  far  as  applicable. 

General  Waul  then  offered  a  resolution  that  a  committee  on 
platform  and  resolutions  should  be  formed  by  selecting  one  dele- 
gate from  each  judicial  district,  said  committee  to  elect  their 
own  chairman.  Adopted. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Bee,  that  a  sergeant-at-arms  should  be  ap- 
pointed, the  chairman  appointed  John  S.  Jones. 

The  committee  on  platform  were  the  following:  First  dis- 
trict, J.  T.  Harcourt,  of  Colorado;  Second,  J.  H.  Duggan,  of 
Guadalupe;  Third,  A.  S.  Broadus,  of  Burleson;  Fourth,  C.  Gan- 
ahl,  of  Kerr;  Fifth,  W.  A.  Leonard,  of  Jasper;  Sixth,  B.  F.  Wil- 
liams, of  Upshur;  Seventh,  R.  M.  Powell,  of  Montgomery; 
Eighth,  L.  C.  Delisle,  of  Fannin ;  Ninth,  F.  F.  Foscue,  of  Chero- 
kee ;  Tenth,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  of  Calhoun ;  Eleventh,  J.  F.  Crosby, 
of  El  Paso ;  Twelfth,  J.  W.  Durant,  of  Leon;  Thirteenth,  W.  W. 
Dunlap,  of  Goliad;  Fourteenth,  E.  S.  Pitts,  of  Tyler;  Fifteenth, 
R.  Word,  of  Tarrant;  Sixteenth,  M.  V.  B.  Sparks,  of  Lampasas; 
Seventeenth,  W.  H.  Parsons,  of  McLennan;  Eighteenth,  J.  R. 
Worrall,  of  Jack. 

A  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Durant  was  adopted,  namely,  that 
eight  delegates  should  be  elected  to  the  Charleston  convention, 
four  from  the  Eastern  and  four  from  the  Western  Congressional 
district,  and  that  a  like  number  of  alternates  should  also  be 
elected  from  each  district.  M.  D.  Graham  was  selected  by  accla- 
mation for  elector  for  the  State  at  large  for  the  Eastern  Con- 
gressional district.  General  Waul  was  selected  on  the  first  ballot 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  263 


as  the  elector  for  the  State  at  large  for  the  Western  district  over 
Col.  A.  M.  Lewis.  R.  S.  Rainey  was  selected  as  elector  for  the 
Eastern  Congressional  district,  and  Mr.  Wharton  was  selected  for 
the  Western  district. 

Eight  delegates  were  elected  to  the  Charleston  convention,  to 
wit :  H.  R.  Runnels,  R.  B.  Hubbard,  F.  F.  Foscue,  and  Gen.  E. 
Greer  from  the  Eastern  district,  and  Francis  R.  Lubbock,  J.  F. 
Crosby,  Guy  M.  Bryan,  and  F.  S.  Stockdale  were  elected  from 
the  Western  district.  The  eight  alternates  were  chosen  as  fol- 
lows: For  the  Eastern  district,  General  Chambers,  Thos.  P. 
Ochiltree,  W.  H.  Tucker,  and  M.  H.  Covey ;  and  for  the  Western 
district,  Fred  Tate,  W.  H.  Parsons,  R.  Ward,  and  R.  M.  Stell. 

George  M.  Flournoy  was  then  nominated  for  Attorney-General, 
C.  R.  Johns  for  Comptroller,  and  C.  H.  Randolph  for  Treasurer. 

Maj.  John  Marshall  offered  a  resolution  tendering  the  thanks 
of  the  convention  to  the  several  railroad  companies  who  had  so 
liberally  given  them  a  free  passage  over  their  roads.  Adopted 
unanimously. 

Mr.  Worrall,  of  Jack  County,  offered  resolutions  on  frontier 
protection,  which  on  motion  were  referred  to  a  special  committee 
composed  of  members  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  Much  dis- 
cussion was  had  upon  these  resolutions  and  several  eloquent 
speeches  were  made.  Among  the  distinguished  speakers  were 
Hon.  Guy  M.  Bryan,  Dr.  \Vorrall,  and  Col.  A.  M.  Lewis.  Mr. 
Bryan's  speech  was  specially  able,  and  there  were  many  highly 
interesting  details  and  facts  given  to  the  convention  in  the  speech 
of  Dr.  Worrall,  who  stated  that  he  had  been  personally  ac- 
quainted with  all  the  late  Indian  forays  and  murders  on  the 
frontier,  as  the  '^base  line"  mentioned  by  General  Houston  passed 
directly  through  the  yard  in  front  of  his  house. 

The  platform  adopted  by  the  convention  was  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  1.  That  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State  of  Texas 
reaffirm  and  concur  in  the  principles  contained  in  the  platform 
of  the  National  Democratic  convention  held  at  Cincinnati  in 
June,  1856,  as  a  true  expression  of  their  political  faith  and  opin- 
ion, and  herewith  reassert  and  set  forth  the  principles  therein 
contained  as  embracing  the  only  doctrines  which  can  preserve 
the  integrity  of  the  Union  and  the  equal  rights  of  the  States,  and 
most  unequivocally  deny  the  Squatter  Sovereignty  interpretation 


264  LU BROCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


given  to  that  platform,  and  that  we  will  continue  to  adhere  to 
and  abide  by  the  principles  and  doctrines  of  the  Virginia  and 
Kentucky  resolutions  of  1798-99,  and  Mr.  Madison's  report  rela- 
tive thereto. 

"2.  In  order  to  give  greater  emphasis  to  these  principles  as  ap- 
plicable to  present  issues  and  exigencies,  we  further  and  specif- 
ically declare  that  Texas  as  a  sovereign  and  independent  nation 
joined  the  confederacy  of  the  United  States,  thereby  entering 
into  a  compact  with  each  and  all  the  States,  the  terms  and  condi- 
tions of  which  are  embraced  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  one  of  them  being,  in  effect,  that  the  State  of  Texas,  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  confederacy,  should  exercise  through  the 
government  of  the  United  States  certain  powers  which  belong  to 
her  as  a  sovereignty,  and  which  shall  be  exercised  through  her 
own  government.  That  in  becoming  a  member  of  the  confed- 
eracy, Texas  parted  with  no  portion  of  her  sovereignty,  but 
merely  changed  the  agent  through  whom  she  should  exercise  some 
of  the  powers  appertaining  to  it. 

"That,  should  these  powers  be  used  at  any  time  to  her  injury 
or  wrong,  or  should  the  government  fail  to  exercise  the  powers 
which  are  delegated  in  good  faith  for  the  maintenance  of  her 
rights  and  the  rights  of  her  people,  or  should  the  compact  she 
has  entered  into  with  the  other  States,  through  the  bad  faith  of 
any  of  them,  fail  to  accomplish  the  objects  for  which  it  was 
formed,  in  any  of  these  cases,  of  which  she  alone  can  judge  for 
herself,  the  State  of  Texas  possesses  the  full  right  as  a  sovereign 
State  to  annul  the  compact,  to  revoke  the  powers  she  has  dele- 
gated to  the  government  of  the  United  States,  to  withdraw  from 
the  confederacy,  and  resume  her  former  place  among  the  powers 
of  the  earth  as  a  sovereign  and  independent  nation. 

"3.  That  it  is  the  right  of  every  citizen  to  take  his  property 
of  every  kind,  including  slaves,  into  the  common  territory  be- 
longing equally  to  all  the  States  of  the  confederacy,  and  to  have 
it  protected  there  under  the  Federal  Constitution.  Neither  Con- 
gress, nor  a  territorial  legislature,  nor  any  human  power,  has 
any  authority  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  impair  those  sacred 
rights ;  and  they  having  been  affirmed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States  in  the  Dred  Scott  case,  we  declare  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  Federal  government,  the  common  agent  of  all  the 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  265 


States,  to  establish  such  government  and  to  enact  such  laws  for 
the  territories,  and  to  change  the  same  from  time  to  time,  as 
may  be  necessary  to  insure  the  protection  and  preservation  of 
those  rights  and  to  prevent  every  infringement  of  the  same.  The 
affirmation  of  this  principle  of  the  duty  of  Congress  to  simply 
protect  the  rights  of  property  is  in  nowise  in  conflict  with  the 
heretofore  established  and  still  recognized  principle  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  that  Congress  does  not  possess  the  power  .to  legis- 
late slavery  into  the  territories  or  exclude  it  therefrom.  That 
while  we  declare  our  unabated  attachment  to  the  Constitution 
and  the  Union  of  these  States,  our  own  self-respect  demands  of 
us  as  a  party  to  affirm  that  this  Union  can  only  be  held  sacred  so 
long  as  it  secures  domestic  tranquillity  and  all  the  guarantees  of 
the  Constitution  are  preserved  inviolate. 

"4.  That  we  regard  with  great  aversion  the  unnatural  efforts 
of  a  sectional  party  at  the  North  to  carry -on  an  irrepressible  con- 
flict against  the  institution,  and  whenever  that  party  shall  suc- 
ceed in  electing 'a  President  upon  their  platform,  we  deem  it  to 
be  the  duty  of  the  people  of  the  State  of  Texas  to  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  co-operate  with  our  sister  States  of  the 
South  in  convention  to  take  into  consideration  such  measures  as 
may  be  necessary  for  our  protection  or  to  secure  out  of  the  con- 
federacy that  protection  of  their  rights  which  they  can  no  longer 
hope  for  in  it. 

"5.  That  this  government  was  founded  for  the  benefit  of  the 
white  race;  that  political  power  was  placed  exclusively  in  the 
hands  of  men  of  Caucasian  origin;  that  experience  has  taught 
these  self-evident  truths  that  the  enforced  equality  of  the  African 
and  European  tends  not  to  the  elevation  of  the  negro,  but  to  the 
degradation  of  the  white  man ;  arid  that  the  present  relations  of 
the  blacks  and  whites  in  the  South  constitutes  the  only  true, 
natural,  and  harmonious  relationship  in  which  the  otherwise 
antagonistic  races  can  live  together  and  achieve  their  mutual 
happiness  and  destiny.  That  we  view  with  undisguised  aversion 
and  with  a  determined  resolution  to  resist  the  design  openly  pro- 
claimed by  the  leaders  of  sectionalism  North  to  'abolish  these 
.distinctions  of  races  peaceably  if  we  can,  forcibly  if  we  must.' 
We  regard  any  effort  by  the  Black  Eepublican  party  to  disturb 
the  happily  existing  subordinate  condition  of  the  negro  race  in 


266  L  UB BOCK'S-  MEMOIRS. 


the  South  as  violative  of  the  organic  act  guaranteeing  the  su- 
premacy of  the  white  race,  and  any  political  action  which  pro- 
poses to  invest  negroes  with  social  and  political  equality  with  the 
white  race  as  an  infraction  of  those  wise  and  wholesome  distinc- 
tions of  nature  which  as  testified  by  all  experience  were  estab- 
lished to  insure  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  each  race." 

Dr.  Worrall's  resolutions  on  frontier  protection  were  favor- 
ably reported  and  passed. 

As  an  endorsement  of  President  Buchanan,  the  following  was 
introduced  and  unanimously  adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  decline  to  endorse  the  course  of  the 
present  Federal  administration  with  reference  to  our  frontier 
and  some  other  questions  of  national  policy,  we  deem  it  proper 
at  the  same  time  to  declare  that  the  policy  of  the  administration 
in  the  main,  and  especially  the  sentiments  expressed  by  Presi- 
dent Buchanan  in  his  late  annual  message  with  reference  to  the 
question  which  most  vitally  concerns  the  South,  meets  with  our 
approval  and  endorsement." 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Harrison,  it  was  "Resolved,  That  in  the 
death  of  Gen.  M.  B.  Lamar,  Texas  has  lost  one  of  her  beloved, 
distinguished,  and  patriotic  sons  and  statesmen,  ever  generous, 
chivalrous,  and  true."  This  was  adopted  without  opposition. 

Maj.  John  Marshall  was  re-elected  chairman  of  the  State  Cen- 
tral Committee. 

The  delegates  to  the  Charleston  convention  were  instructed  to 
insist  upon  the  adoption  of  the  two-thirds  rule,  and  a  resolution 
passed  providing  for  the  appointment  of  electors  for  each  judi- 
cial district. 

It  was  determined  to  hold  the  next  State  convention  at  Dallas 
on  the  second  Monday  in  April,  1861. 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  267 


CHAPTER   SIXTEEN. 

National  Democratic  Convention  at  Charleston  —  Disagreement  as  to 
Platform  and  Withdrawal  of  Southern  Delegates  —  The  Convention 
Fails  to  Make  Nominations  and  Adjourns  to  Reassemble  at  Balti- 
more — Withdrawing  Delegates  Meet  and  Organize  at  Richmond  — 
Douglas  Faction  Reassemble  at  Baltimore  —  Irregular  Proceedings 
—Withdrawal  of  Northern  Delegates  —  Douglas  Nominated  for  Pres- 
ident—  Adjournment — The  Withdrawing  Delegates  Meet  in  Conven- 
tion at  Baltimore  on  the  Adjournment  of  the  Douglas  Convention 
and  Adopt  for  a  Platform  the  Majority  Report  Made  at  Charleston  — 
Breckenridge  Nominated  for  President  by  Delegates  Representing  a 
Majority  of  the  States —  Yancey's  Speech  —  Adjournment. 

Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Galveston  conven- 
tion, I  returned  home  and  made  preparation  for  an  extended 
eastern  tour  with  Mrs.  Lubbock.  So  in  a  short  time  we  set  out 
for  Charleston,  via  New  Orleans  and  Mobile,  arriving  in  good 
time,  without  incident.  During  our  stay  in  the  city  we  were  the 
guests  of  Colonel  Stevens,  the  brother-in-law  of  Ham  P.  Bee. 

The  other  Texas  delegates  were  promptly  on  hand  at  the  ap- 
pointed time,  and  we  all  took  our  seats  at  the  opening  of  the 
National  Democratic  convention. 

The  convention  assembled  in  Institute  Hall,  at  noon,  Monday, 
April  23,  1860,  and  was  called  to  order  by  Judge  Sinalley,  of 
Vermont,  chairman  of  the  National  Democratic  Committee. 

On  motion  of  McCook,  of  Ohio,  Francis  B.  Flournoy,  of  Ar- 
kansas, was  elected  temporary  chairman. 

Dr.  Hanckel  opened  the  proceedings  with  prayer. 

Mr.  Ritchie,  of  Virginia,  was  chosen  secretary  pro  tern. 

Two  committees  (one  on  credentials  and  the  other  on  perma- 
nent organization)  were  appointed,  consisting  of  one  member 
from  each  State,  selected  by  the  State  delegations;  and  States 
that  had  sent  two  sets  of  delegates  (like  Illinois  and  New  York) 
were  not  permitted  representation  thereon. 

The  following  were  the  committee  on  credentials :  C.  D. 
Jameson,  Maine;  A.  P.  Hughes,  New  Hampshire;  Stephen 
Thomas,  Vermont;  Oliver  Stevens,  Massachusetts;  Geo.  H. 
Brown,  Rhode  Island;  Jas.  Gallagher,  Connecticut;  Delos  De 
Wolfe,  New  York ;  A.  R.  Speer,  New  Jersey ;  H.  M.  North,  Penn- 


LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


sylvania;  Wm.  G.  Whiteley,  Delaware;  W.  S.  Gittings,  Mary- 
land; E.  W.  Hubbard,  Virginia;  R.  R.  Bridges,  North  Carolina; 
B.  F.  Perry,  South  Carolina;  J.  Hartridge,  Georgia;  W.  M. 
Brooks,  Alabama ;  W.  S.  Barry,  Mississippi ;  F.  H.  Hatch,  Louis- 
iana; Jas.  B.  Stedman,  Ohio;  G.  T.  Wood,  Kentucky;  W.  H. 
Carroll,  Tennessee;  S.  A.  Hall,  Indiana;  W.  J.  Allen,  Illinois; 
John  M.  Krum,  Missouri;  Van  H.  Manning,  Arkansas;  Benj. 
Follet,  Michigan;  C.  E.  Dyke,  Florida;  E.  Greer,  Texas;  D.  0. 
Finch,  Iowa;  P.  H.  Smith,  Wisconsin;  John  S.  Dudley,  Cali- 
fornia ;  H.  H.  Sibley,  Minnesota ;  Lansing  Stout,  Oregon. 

The  committee  on  permanent  organization  was  composed  as 
follows:  Maine,  W.  H.  Burrill;  Pennsylvania,  J.  Cessna;  Mis- 
sissippi, Chas.  Clark ;  New  Hampshire,  R.  S.  Webster ;  Delaware, 
J.  B.  Pennington;  Florida,  T.  J.  Eppes;  Vermont,  H.  E.  Slough- 
ton  ;  Maryland,  John  R.  Emory ;  Louisiana,  Emile  La  Sere ;  Mas- 
sachusetts, C.  W.  Chapin;  Virginia,  John  Brannon;  Texas,  F. 
R.  Lubbock;  Rhode  Island,  John  N.  Francis;  North  Carolina, 
W.  A.  Mole;  Arkansas,  John  J.  Stirman;  Connecticut,  A.  C. 
Lippett;  South  Carolina,  B.  H.  Wilson;  Missouri,  S.  D. 
Churchill;  New  York,  S.  F.  Fairchild;  Georgia,  J.  H.  Lumpkin; 
Tennessee,  T.  M.  Jones ;  New  Jersey,  Robt.  Hamilton ;  Alabama, 
A.  B.  Meek;  Kentucky,  C.  Cecil;  Ohio,  Geo.  W.  Houk;  Wiscon- 
sin, E.  S.  Bragg;  Indiana,  S.  K.  Wolfe;  Iowa,  E.  H.  Thayer; 
Illinois,  A.  M.  Harrington;  Minnesota,  J.  T.  Rosser;  Michigan, 
A.  C.  Baldwin;  California,  G.  W.  Patrick;  Oregon,  John  K. 
Lamerick. 

The  reports  of  the  committees  having  been  made  and  accepted, 
Hon.  Caleb  Gushing,  of  Massachusetts,  was  elected  permanent 
chairman  (or  president)  of  the  convention,  and  the  following 
gentlemen  vice-presidents  and  secretaries,  each  State  repre- 
sented in  the  convention  being  honored  in  the  selection :  Maine : 
Vice-president,  Thomas  D.  Robinson ;  secretary,  C.  Record.  New 
Hampshire:  Vice-president,  Dan  Marcy;  secretary,  Geo.  A. 
Bingham.  Vermont:  Vice-president,  Jasper  Rand;  secretary, 
P.  W.  Hyde.  Massachusetts:  Vice-president,  Isaac  Davis;  sec- 
retary, B.  F.  Watson.  Rhode  Island :  Vice-president,  Gideon 
Bradford ;  secretary,  Amasa  Sprague.  Connecticut :  Vice-presi- 
dent, Samuel  Arnold  ;  secretary,  M.  R.  West.  New  Jersey :  Vice- 
president,  Wrn.  Wright ;  secretary,  John  C.  Rafferty.  New  York: 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  269 


Vice-president,  Erastus  Corning;  secretary,  Edward  Cooper. 
Pennsylvania :  Vice-president,  Thos.  Cunningham ;  secretary, 
Franklin  Vansant.  Delaware :  Vice-president,  W.  H.  Ross ;  sec- 
retary, John  H.  Buley.  Maryland :  Vice-president,  W.  /2S.  Bowie ; 
secretary,  E.  L.  F.  Hardcastle.  Virginia:  Vice-president,  0.  R. 
Funston;  secretary,  Robt.  H.  Glass.  North  Carolina:  Vice- 
president,  Bedford  Brown;  secretary,  L.  W.  Humphrey.  South 
Carolina:  Vice-president,  B.  H.  Brown;  secretar}^  Franklin 
Gaillard.  Georgia:  Vice-president,  Jas.  Thomas;  secretary,  J. 
J.  Dimond.  Alabama :  Vice-president,  R.  G.  Scott ;  secretary. 
N".  H.  R.  Dawson.  Mississippi:  Vice-president,  Jas.  Drane; 
secretary,  W.  H.  H.  Tyson.  Louisiana:  Vice-president,  R.  Tay- 
lor; secretary,  Chas.  Jones.  Ohio:  Vice-president,  David  Tod; 
secretary,  W.  M.  Stark.  Kentucky :  Vice-president,  B.  Spalding ; 
secretary,  Robt.  McKee.  Tennessee :  Vice-president,  J.  C.  C. 
Atkins;  secretary,  John  R.  Howard.  Indiana:  Vice-president, 
Isaac  C.  Elston;  secretary,  Lafayette  Devlin.  Illinois:  Vice- 
president,  Z.  Casey;  secretary,  R.  E.  Goodell.  Arkansas:  Vice- 
president,  Francis  A.  Terry;  secretary,  F.  W.  Hoadley.  Michi- 
gan :  Vice-president,  H.  H.  Riley ;  secretary,  John  G.  Park- 
hurst.  Florida :  Vice-president,  B.  F.  Wardlaw ;  secretary,  C.  E. 
Dyke.  Texas:  Vice-president,  H.  R.  Runnels;  secretary,  Thos. 
P.  Ochiltree.  Missouri :  Vice-president,  Abraham  Hunter ;  sec- 
retary, J.  T.  Mense.  Iowa :  Vice-president,  T.  W.  Claggett :  sec- 
retary, J.  W.  Bosier.  Wisconsin :  Vice-president,  Fred  W.  Horn ; 
secretary,  A.  F.  Pratt.  California :  Vice-president,  J.  A.  Dreibel- 
bis;  secretary,  John  S.  Dudley.  Minnesota:  Vice-president,  W. 
W.  Phelps;  secretary,  G.  T.  Rosser.  Oregon:  Vice-president, 
A.  P.  Dennison ;  secretary,  R.  P.  Metcalf. 

The  announcement  of  Cushing's  name  as  president  excited 
loud  cheering. 

On  recommendation  of  the  committee  on  permanent  organ- 
ization, the  rules  governing  the  Democratic  conventions  of  1852 
and  1856  were  adopted ;  but  an  additional  rule  recommended  by 
the  committee  met  with  considerable  opposition.  The  rule  pro- 
posed was  as  follows :  "That  in  every  State  which  has  not  pro- 
vided, or  directed,  by  its  State  convention  how  its  vote  may  be 
given,  the  convention  will  recognize  the  right  of  each  delegate  to 
cast  his  individual  vote." 


270  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


In  the  general  discussion  that  ensued  as  to  the  adoption  of 
this  additional  rule,  I  stated  that  a  proposition  to  report  it  to  the 
convention  had  been  voted  down  in  the  committee  by  an  immense 
majority;  that,  according  to  my  information,  the  committee, 
without  due  notice  to  its  members,  had  met  again,  with  reduced 
numbers,  and  undone  the  work  of  the  majority,  and  that  I  did 
not  think  it  fair  to  bring  the  question  before  the  convention  in 
such  a  manner.  I  held  that  the  old  rules  of  Democracy  were 
sufficient  for  all  emergencies,  and  that  it  was  a  matter  for  the 
several  delegations  themselves  to  settle  whether  or  not  they  would 
vote  as  a  unit. 

Mr.  Cessna,  chairman  of  the  committee,  claimed,  in  reply,  that 
a  large  majority  of  the  committee  had  acted  on  the  matter ;  that 
he  had  sent  out  notices  to  get  the  attendance  of  every  member  of 
the  committee ;  and,  in  conclusion,  that  the  unit  rule,  left  to  the 
option  of  the  several  State  delegations,  would  disfranchise  him. 

Josiah  Randall,  of  Pennsylvania,  opposed  the  new  rule,  say- 
ing :  "A  few  weeks  ago  I  called  upon  Judge  Smalley,  and  he  told 
me  that  it  was  the  common  law  of  the  last  four  Democratic  con- 
ventions that  each  delegation  had  the  right  to  determine  how 
they  would  vote,  whether  as  a  unit  or  otherwise." 

Mr.  Wright,  of  Pennsylvania  (who  had  been  a  member  of 
every  national  Democratic  convention  that  had  ever  been  held), 
in  advocating  the  additional  rule,  said  in  part :  "If,  however,  the 
convention  of  the  party  in  any  State  shall  have  determined  that 
the  vote  of  the  State  shall  be  cast  as  a  unit,  I  have  not  a  word 
to  object ;  but  when  a  State  convention  has  left  to  the  individual 
delegates  the  full  power  of  voting  according  to  their  own  indi- 
vidual opinions,  then  it  is  the  part  of  Sve,  the  people,'  to  say  how 
we  shall  vote,  uncontrolled  by  the  majority  of  our  particular 
delegations.  ...  In  1844  the  vote  of  Pennsylvania  stood 
twelve  to  thirteen  on  the  adoption  of  the  two-thirds  rule,  when, 
for  the  first  time,  it  was  made  applicable  to  the  nomination  of 
candidates  for  the  presidency.  At  a  previous  convention  that 
rule  was  adopted  in  regard  to  the  nomination  of  Eichard  M. 
Johnson  for  the  vice-presidency." 

On  the  question  being  put,  the  rule  was  adopted. 

Hon.  Caleb  Cushing  was  escorted  to  his  seat  as  president  of 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  271 


the  convention  by  General  Clark,  of  Mississippi,  and  Colonel 
Richardson,  of  Illinois. 

On  taking  the  chair,  President  Gushing  said  in  part : 

"Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  You  have  come  together 
.  .  .  to  participate  in  the  selection  of  the  future  rulers  of  the 
Republic.  You  do  this  as  the  representatives  of  the  Democratic 
party — of  that  great  party  of  the  Union  .  .  .  whose  proud 
mission  it  was,  and  is,  to  maintain  the  public  liberties ;  to  recon- 
cile popular  freedom  with  constituted  order;  to  maintain  the 
sacred,  reserved  rights  of  the  States  [applause]  ;  to  stand,  in  a 
word,  the  perpetual  sentinels  upon  the  outposts  of  the  Constitu- 
tion. .  .  . 

"Opposed  to  us  are  those  who  labor  to  overthrow  the  Consti- 
tution, under  the  false  and  insidious  pretense  of  supporting  it; 
those  who  are  aiming  to  produce  in  this  country  a  permanent 
sectional  conspiracy — a  traitorous  sectional  conspiracy — of  one- 
half  the  States  of  the  Union  against  the  other  half  [applause]  ; 
those  who,  impelled  by  a  stupid  and  half  insane  spirit  of  faction 
and  fanaticism,  would  hurry  our  land  on  to  revolution  and  civil 
war." 

On  the  second  day  of  the  convention,  in  response  to  a  roll  call 
of  the  States,  the  following  gentlemen  were  presented,  by  name, 
as  the  committee  on  resolutions :  Amos  M.  Roberts,  Maine ;  W. 
Biirns,  New  Hampshire ;  E.  M.  Brown,  Vermont ;  Ben  F.  Butler, 
Massachusetts ;  C.  S.  Bradley,  Rhode  Island ;  A.  G.  Hazard,  Con- 
necticut;  Edwin  Croswell,  New  York;  Benj.  Williamson,  New 
Jersey;  H.  B.  Wright,  Pennsylvania;  Jas.  A.  Bayard,  Delaware; 
Bradley  £  Johnson,  Maryland;  Jas.  Barbour,  Virginia;  W.  W.  \J , 
Avery,  North  Carolina ;  John  S.  Preston,  South  Carolina ;  Jun- 
ius  Wingfield,  Georgia;  J.  B.  Owens,  Florida;  John  Erwin,  Ala- 
bama; R.  A.  Hunter,  Louisiana;  E.  Barksdale,  Mississippi;  F. 
S.  Stockdale,  Texas;  N.  B.  Burrow,  Arkansas; ,  Mis- 
souri ;  Samuel  Mulligan,  Tennessee ;  R.  K.  Williams,  Kentucky ; 
H.  B.  Payne,  Ohio;  P.  C.  Dunning,  Indiana;  0.  B.  Fielding, 
Illinois;  G.  V.  N.  Lathrop,  Michigan;  A.  S.  Palmer,  Wisconsin; 
B.  M.  Samuel,  Iowa;  Jas.  M.  Cavanaugh,  Minnesota;  Austin  E. 
Smith,  California;  Isaac  I.  Stevens,  Oregon. 

At  the  third  day's  session  Mr.  Avery,  of  North  Carolina,  re- 
ported the  platform  agreed  upon  by  a  majority  of  the  committee 


272  LUB  BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


— delegates  representing  seventeen  States,  fifteen  slave  States, 
Oregon,  and  California,  commonwealths  possessing  an  aggregate 
of  127  electoral  votes,  all  solidly  Democratic. 

The  minority  report  was  presented  by  Mr.  Payne,  of  Ohio,  and 
signed  by  delegates  from  fifteen  free  States.  These  fifteen  States 
represented  176  electoral  votes,  all  more  or  less  doubtful. 

After  being  debated  several  days,  both  reports  were  recom- 
mitted. 

On  the  sixth  day  Mr.  A  very,  acting  for  a  majority  of  the 
committee,  reported  the  following  platform : 

"Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  at  Cincinnati  be 
affirmed,  with  the  following  explanatory  resolutions : 

"First.  That  the  government  of  a  territory,  organized  by  an 
act  of  Congress,  is  provisional  and  temporary,  and  during  its 
existence  all  citizens  of  the  United  States  have  an  equal  right  to 
settle,  with  their  property,  in  the  territory,  without  their  rights, 
either  of  person  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  impaired  by  con- 
gressional or  territorial  legislation. 

"Second.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  government,  in 
all  its  departments,  to  protect,  when  necessary,  the  rights  of  per- 
son and  property  in  the  territories  and  wherever  else  its  constitu- 
tional authority  extends. 

"Third.  That  when  the  settlers  in  a  territory,  having  an  ade- 
quate population,  form  a  State  Constitution,  the  right  of  sover- 
eignty commences,  and,  being  consummated  by  admission  into 
the  Union,  they  stand  on  an  equal  footing  with  the  people  of 
other  States :  and  the  State  thus  organized  ought  to  be  admitted 
into  the  Federal  Union,  whether  its  Constitution  prohibits  or 
recognizes  the  institution  of  slavery. 

"Fourth.  That  the  Democratic  party  are  in  favor  of  the 
acquisition  of  the  island  of  Cuba,  on  such  terms  as  shall  be  hon- 
orable to  ourselves  and  just  to  Spain,  at  the  earliest  practicable 
moment. 

"Fifth.  That  the  enactments  of  State  Legislatures  to  defeat 
the  faithful  execution  of  the  fugitive  slave  law  are  hostile  in 
character,  subversive  of  the  Constitution,  and  revolutionary  in 
their  effect. 

"Sixth.  That  the  Democracy  of  the  United  States  recognize 
it  as  the  imperative  duty  of  this  government  to  protect  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  278 


naturalized  citizen  in  all  his  rights,  whether  at  home  or  in  for- 
eign lands,  to  the  same  extent  as  its  native-born  citizens. 

"Whereas,  One  of  the  greatest  necessities  of  the  age,  in  a 
political,  commercial,  postal,  and  military  point  of  view,  is  a 
speedy  communication  between  the  Pacific  and  Atlantic  Coasts; 
therefore, 

"Be  it  resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  do  hereby  pledge 
themselves  to  use  every  means  in  their  power  to  secure  the 
passage  of  some  bill,  to  the  extent  of  the  constitutional  authority 
of  Congress,  for  the  construction  of  a  Pacific  railroad  from  the 
Mississippi  River  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  at  the  earliest  practicable 
moment." 

The  minority  report  (submitted  by  Mr.  Samuels,  of  Iowa) 
differed  from  the  majority  report  only  in  the  second  resolution. 
The  second  resolution,  as  offered  by  the  minority,  was  as  fol- 
lows: 

"Inasmuch  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in  the  Democratic 
party  as  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  powers  of  a  territorial 
legislature,  and  as  to  the  powers  and  duties  of  Congress,  under 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over  the  institution  of 
slavenr  within  the  territories ; 

"Second.  Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  abide  by 
the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  on  the 
questions  of  constitutional  law." 

This  was  the  vital  point  on  which  the  whole  controversy  turned 
— whether  the  party  should  clearly  enunciate  its  belief  in  rela- 
tion to  this  important  matter  and  pledge  itself  to  give  practical 
effect  to  that  belief  if  intrusted  with  power,  or  agree  to  hold  its 
judgment  in  suspense  until  the  Supreme  Court  had  spoken,  and 
then  accept,  as  a  final  settlement,  whatever  decision  that  tribunal 
might  announce. 

This  was  an  attempt  to  dodge  the  question  at  issue,  which  we 
determined  not  to  permit. 

B.  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  offered  the  following  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  both  reports : 

"Resolved,  That  we,  the  Democracy  of  the  Union,  in  conven- 
tion assembled,  hereby  declare  our  affirmance  of  the  Democratic 
resolutions  unanimously  adopted  and  declared  as  a  platform  of 
principles  at  Cincinnati  in  the  year  1856,  without  addition  or 
18 

-  ^ 


274  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


alteration,  believing  that  Democratic  principles  are  unchange- 
able in  their  nature  when  applied  to  the  same  subject  matter; 
and  we  recommend,  as  the  only  further  resolution,  the  follow- 
ing: 

"Kesolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  United  States  to  extend 
its  protection  alike  over  all  its  citizens,  whether  native  or  nat- 
uralized/'' 

Butler's  substitute  was,  if  possible,  a  more  pronounced  effort 
to  dodge  the  issue  than  that  suggested  by  the  minority  report. 

The  vote,  taken  by  States,  on  his  substitute  resulted  in  its  de- 
feat— 198  nays  to  105  yeas. 

Principles,  it  is  true,  never  change.  We  did  not  propose  such 
a  change.  What  we  insisted  upon  was  a  clear-cut  announcement 
of  principles;  an  unmistakable  party  interpretation  of  the  Cin- 
cinnati platform,  in  order  that  issue  might  be  squarely  joined 
before  the  people,  in  what  we  anticipated  would  be  a  great  and 
decisive  political  battle.  Butler  and  Douglas,  however  much 
they  differed  on  other  things,  had  conspired  to  defeat  our  pur- 
pose. Their  desire  was,  apparently,  for  the  anti-slavery  men  to 
win  by  indirection  what  they  could  not  accomplish  openly. 

A  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  minority  report  (offered  as  a 
substitute  for  the  majority  report),  and  resulted  in  its  adoption 
by  the  convention — 165  yeas,  138  nays. 

The  votes  of  the  fifteen  slave  States,  with  the  exception  of 
three  and  one-half  of  Maryland's  eight  votes,  one  of  Virginia's 
eleven  votes,  four  of  Missouri's  nine  votes,  one  of  Tennessee's 
eleven  votes,  and  two  and  one-half  of  Kentucky's  twelve  votes, 
were  cast  in  the  negative.  All  the  votes  *of  the  seventeen  free 
States  were  in  the  affirmative,  save  those  of  California  and  Ore- 
gon (four  and  three  respectively),  six  of  Massachusetts'  thirteen 
votes,  two  of  New  Jersey's  seven  votes,  and  fifteen  of  Pennsyl- 
vania's twenty-seven  votes. 

The  sectional  character  of  the  vote  augured  ill  for  the  integrity 
of  the  Democratic  party  and  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  In- 
deed, this  deliberate  rejection  of  the  majority  report,  which  alone 
gave  slaveholders  equal  rights  in  the  territories,  proved  to  be  the 
entering  wedge  for  separation. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Butler,  the  convention  next  proceeded  to 
vote,  by  States,  upon  each  section  of  the  minority  report,  not- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  275 


withstanding  the  fact  that  the  report  had  already  been  adopted 
as  a  whole. 

On  the  section  reaffirming  the  Cincinnati  platform  the  vote 
stood  237^  yeas  to  65  nays.  The  Texas  delegation  voted  in  the 
negative,  as  we  considered  the  Cincinnati  platform,  without  an 
explanation,  a  swindle.  That  platform,  with  the  construction 
placed  on  it  by  Mr.  Douglas,  was  all  that  was,  at  this  stage  in 
the  process  of  platform  building,  left  to  the  South. 

On  the  question  to  lay  on  the  table  the  remaining  sections  of 
the  report,  there  were  81  yeas  to  188  nays,  the  Carolinas,  Ar- 
kansas, Missouri,  and  all  the  Gulf  States  declining  to  participate 
in  the  ballot. 

A  vote  was  then  taken  on  the  second  resolution  and  its  pre- 
amble, resulting  in  its  being  rejected,  when  thus  separately  put — 
238  nays  to  21  yeas.  The  Gulf  States  and  Arkansas  declined  to 
vote.  The  delegates  from  Texas  took  no  further  part  in  the  bal- 
loting after  the  adoption  of  that  portion  of  the  minority  report 
containing  a  bold  affirmance  of  the  Cincinnati  platform.  The 
majority,  however,  proceeded  to  the  extremity  of  the  issue,  and 
adopted  seriatim,  the  remaining  sections  of  the  report,  the  one 
favoring  the  acquisition  of  the  island  of  Cuba  meeting  with  no 
opposition. 

When  a  vote  was  called  for  upon  the  acquisition  of  the  island 
of  Cuba,  ,Mr.  Bryan,  chairman  of  our  delegation,  stated  that 
Texas  was  in  favor  of  a  Pacific  railroad  and  the  acquisition  of 
Cuba,  but  she  declined  voting. 

In  reply  to  Stuart,  of  Michigan,  who  had  stated  that  Alabama 
had  now  a  new  demand  in  addition  to  former  grievances,  Mr. 
Yancey  said:  "I  have  never,  at  any  time,  here  or  elsewhere, 
yielded  the  position  that  the  Cincinnati  platform  did  not  give  to 
the  South  the  doctrine  that  Congress  should  intervene  to  repeal, 
or  modify,  unconstitutional  laws.  I  have  not  here,  or  anywhere 
else,  desired  to  be  understood  as  saying  that  Alabama  desired  a 
new  plank.  The  Cincinnati  platform,  as  construed  by  Mr.  Doug- 
las and  his  friends,  is  hostile  to  our  construction  of  it.  He  and 
his  friends  are  here  to-day  in  a  majority  and  have  that  platform, 
after  having  told  the  South  that  they  never  would  yield  the  doc- 
trine of  squatter  sovereignty.  That,  therefore,  gives  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati platform,  when  adopted  by  this  body,  the  construction  of 


276  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


that  majority;  and  it  is,  that  the  South  is  not  entitled  to  pro- 
tection by  Congress  in  the  Territories,  but  that  the  legislatures 
there  can  drive  Southern  men  out  of  the  Territories.  Simply 
to  meet  that  construction  and  to  explain  what  our  views  are, 
Alabama  desires  an  explanatory  resolution  to  the  effect  that  Con- 
gress should  not  intervene  to  establish  slavery  by  organic  law, 
nor  to  exclude  it  by  organic  law,  but  that  Congress  has  the 
power,  coupled  with  the  duty,  to  interfere  to  protect  the  consti- 
tutional rights  of  the  slaveholder,  whenever  and  wherever  as- 
sailed." [Great  cheering.] 

Mr.  L.  P.  Walker,  chairman  of  the  Alabama  delegation,  next 
got  the  floor  and  read  the  resolutions  of  the  Alabama  State 
Democratic  convention  instructing  her  delegates  to  withdraw 
from  the  National  Democratic  convention  if  the  convention 
failed,  in  its  platform,  to  recognize  the  rights  of  the  South  in 
the  Territories ;  after  which  the  Alabama  delegation  retired  from 
the  hall.  Whereupon,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  South  Carolina, 
and  Florida  also  withdrew,  after  filing  their  protests  through 
their  respective  chairmen. 

Our  chairman,  Guy  M.  Bryan,  who  was  greeted  with  loud 
cheers,  said: 

"Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Convention:  Texas, 
through  her  delegates  on  this  floor,  in  the  land  of  Calhoun,  where 
truth,  justice,  and  the  Constitution'  was  proclaimed  to  the 
South,  says :  'This  day,  you  stand  erect !'  [Loud  cheers.]  Whilst 
we  deprecate  the  necessity  which  calls  for  our  parting  with  the 
delegates  of  the  other  States  of  this  confederacy,  yet  it  is  an 
event  that  we,  personally,  have  long  looked  to.  Educated  in  a 
Northern  college,  I  there  first  learned  that  there  was  a  'North 
and  a  South ;'  there  were  two  literary  societies,  one  Northern  and 
the  other  Southern.  In  the  churches,  the  Methodist  Church, 
the  Baptist  Church,  the  Presbyterian  Church,  are  North  and 
South.  Gentlemen  of  the  North  and  the  Northwest :  God  grant 
that  there  may  be  but  one  Democratic  party !  It  depends  upon 
your  actions,  when  you  leave  here,  whether  it  shall  be  so.  Give 
not  aid  and  comfort  to  the  Black  Republican  hosts;  but  say  to 
the  South,  *You  are  our  equals  in  this  confederacy,  and  your 
lives,  your  persons,  and  property,  equally  with  those  of  the 
Northern  States,  are  protected  by  the  Constitution  of  the  Fed- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  277 


eral  Union.'  What  is  it  we,  the  Southern  Democrats,  are  ask- 
ing you  to  acknowledge  ?  Analyze  it  and  see  the  meaning,  and 
it  is  this,  that  we  will  not  ask  quite  as  much  of  you  as  the  Black 
Eepublicans ;  and,  if  you  only  grant  what  we  ask,  we  can  fight 
them.  We  blame  you  not,  if  you  really  hold  these  opinions ;  but, 
declare,  them  openly,  and  let  us  separate  as  did  Abraham  and 
Lot. 

"I  have  been  requested  to  read  this  protest  on  the  part  of  the 
delegates  from  Texas,  and  to  ask  the  courtesy  of  the  convention 
that  it  be  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  its  proceedings." 

The  following  is  the  protest  to  which  Mr.  Bryan  alluded: 

"Hon.  Caleb  Gushing,  President  of  the  Democratic  National 
Convention :  The  undersigned  delegates  from  the  State  of  Texas 
would  respectfully  protest  against  the  late  action  of  this  conven- 
tion in  refusing  to  adopt  the  report  of  the  majority  of  the  com- 
mittee on  resolutions,  which  operates  as  the  virtual  adoption  of 
principles  affirming  doctrines  in  opposition  to  the  decision  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  the  Dred  Scott  case,  and  in  conflict  with 
the  Federal  Constitution,  and  especially  opposed  to  the  platform 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  Texas. 

"Kecognizing  these  declarations  of  principles  as  instructions 
to  us  for  our  government  in  the  National  convention,  and  be- 
lieving that  a  repudiation  of  them  by  all  of  the  Northern  States, 
except  the  noble  States  of  Oregon  and  California,  the  whole  vote 
of  which  is  more  than  doubtful  in  the  ensuing  presidential  elec- 
tion, demand  from  us  our  unqualified  condemnation. 

"The  undersigned  do  not  deem  this  the  place,  or  time,  to  dis- 
cuss the  practical  illustration  that  has  been  given  of  the  'irre- 
pressible conflict'  between  the  Northern  and  Southern  States, 
that  has  prevailed  in  the  convention  for  the  last  week. 

"It  is  sufficient  to  say  that,  if  the  principles  of  the  Northern 
Democracy  are  properly  represented  by  the  opinion  and  action 
of  the  majority  of  the  delegates  from  that  section  on  this  floor, 
we  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  that  their  principles  are  not  only 
not  ours,  but,  if  adhered  to  and  enforced  by  them,  will  destroy 
this  Union. 

"In  consideration  of  the  foregoing  facts,  we  can  not  remain 
in  this  convention. 


278  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"We    consequently    respectfully    withdraw,    leaving    no    one 
authorized  to  cast  the  vote  of  the  State  of  Texas. 
"Guy  M.  Bryan,  chairman;  F.  E.  Lubbock,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  E. 
Greer,  H.  R.  Runnels,  Wm.  H.  Parsons,  R.  Ward,  J.'F. 
Crosby,  M.  W.  Cavey,  T.  P.  Ochiltree." 

The  substance  of  the  protests  of  all  the  seceding  Southern 
States  was  resistance  to  Douglas'  "squatter  sovereignty"  and  dis- 
approval of  the  Janus-faced  proposed  platform,  dodging  the 
vital  issue,  viz.,  protection  of  slavery  in  the  Territories  until  ad- 
mitted as  States  into  the  Union. 

Arkansas  followed  Texas,  her  delegates  submitting  a  protest 
and  retiring  from  the  hall. 

The  Georgia  delegation,  after  in  their  turn  submitting  a 
solemn  protest,  withdrew  from  the  convention  the  following  day, 
May  1st. 

Mr.  Flournoy,  of  Arkansas,  made  a  speech  deprecating  the  in- 
considerate action  of  the  cotton  States. 

Short  speeches  were  now  made  in  a  conciliatory  way,  depre- 
cating the  situation  and  hoping  for  harmony,  by  Messrs.  Sewar'd, 
of  Georgia ;  Holden,  of  North  Carolina ;  Richardson,  of  Illinois ; 
Perry,  of  South  Carolina;  Howard,  of  Tennessee;  Krum,  of 
Missouri,  and  Bidwell,  of  California. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  McCook,  of  Ohio,  the  convention,  at  2  p.  m., 
May  1st,  entered  upon  the  selection  of  candidates  for  the  presi- 
dency and  vice-presidency,  balloting  by  States. 

Mr.  King  nominated  Stephen  A.  Douglas  [applause]  ;  Cald- 
well,  of  Kentucky,  nominated  James  Guthrie;  Bidwell,  of  Cali- 
fornia, nominated  Daniel  S.  Dickinson;  Russell,  of  Virginia, 
nominated  R.  M.  T.  Hunter;  Ewing,  of  Tennessee,  nominated 
Andrew  Johnson;  and  Stevens,  of  Oregon,  nominated  Gen. 
Joseph  Lane. 

The  first  ballot  gave  Douglas  145£,  Hunter  42,  Dickinson  35£, 
Johnson  12,  Dickinson  7,  Lane  6,  Toucey  2£,  Davis  1£,  Pearce  1. 

The  last  three  had  not  been  formally  put  in  nomination. 

It  was  Butler  that  gave  Jefferson  Davis  1£  votes  out  of  Massa- 
chusetts' 13. 

There  were  fifty-seven  ballots  taken  that  day  and  the  next, 
without  any  material  variation.  The  whole  number  of  electoral 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  279 


votes  being  303,  202  were  necessary  to  a  choice  under  the  two- 
thirds  rule. 

Mr.  Douglas  never  received  on  any  ballot  more  than  152£ 
votes. 

As  it  was  evident  that  no  nomination  could  be  made  under 
existing  circumstances,  the  convention  adjourned  May  3d,  to 
meet  again  in  Baltimore  on  June  18th.29 

President  Gushing,  on  the  eve  of  adjournment,  delivered  a 
feeling  address  to  the  convention,  saying,  in  conclusion : 

"Finally,  permit  me  to  remind  you,  gentlemen,  that  not  merely 
the  fortunes  of  the  great  constitutional  party  which  you  repre- 
sent, but  the  fortunes  of  the  Constitution,  also,  are  at  stake  in 
the  acts  of  this  convention. 

"During  the  period  of  eighty-four  years,  we,  the  States  of  this 
Union,  have  been  associated  together,  in  one  form  or  another, 
for  objects  of  domestic  order  and  foreign  security.  We  have 
traversed,  side  by  side,  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  other  and 
later  wars ;  through  peace  and  war,  through  sunshine  and  storm, 
we  have  held  our  way  manfully  on,  until  we  have  come  to  be  a 
great  Republic.  Shall  we  cease  to  be  such  ?  I  will  not  believe  it. 
I  will  not  believe  that  the  noble  work  of  our  fathers  is  to  be  shat- 
tered into  fragments;  this  great  Republic  to  be  but  a  name  in 
history  of  a  mighty  people  once  existing,  but  existing  no  longer 

89  Col.  Stockdale,  our  representative  on  the  platform  committee,  being 
confined  to  his  room  by  sickness,  I  was  chosen  by  the  Texas  delegation 
to  act  in  his  stead.  B.  F.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Gov.  Stevens, 
of  Oregon,  took  such  extreme  States'  rights  positions  in  the  committee 
room  that  I  voted  against  the  utterances  they  insisted  upon  being 
embodied  in  the  platform.  Butler  thereupon  took  occasion  to  say  that 
Texas  possessed  neither  population,  wealth,  talent,  nor  representation  to 
entitle  her  to  much  consideration.  The  Chairman,  Col.  Avery,  of 
North  Carolina,  calling  him  to  order,  I  asked  that  he  be  allowed  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  end  of  his  tirade;  and  when  it  was  finished  I  replied  to  him 
in  the  manner  he  deserved,  stating  among  other  things,  that  he  was 
endeavoring  to  place  the  South  in  a  false  position  before  the  country; 
that  he  was  no  friend  to  the  South  and  could  not  deceive  me  or  the 
Texas  delegation,  and  that  in  a  few  decades  Texas,  already  possessing 
every  element  that  dignifies  and  renders  illustrious  a  free  people,  would 
outstrip  Massachusetts  in  the  matter  of  representation  —  a  prediction 
that  will  doubtless  be  verified  when  the  census  is  taken  during  the 
present  year  (1900). 


280  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


save  as  a  shadowy  memory,  or  as  a  monumental  ruin  by  the  side 
of  the  pathway  of  time.  I  fondly  trust  that  we  shall  continue 
to  march  on  forever,  the  hope  of  nations,  as  well  in  the  old  world 
as  in  the  new.  As  the  bright  orbs  of  the  firmament,  which  roll 
fatally  on,  without  rest  (because  bound  for  eternity),  without 
haste  (because  predestined  for  eternity),  so  may  it  be  with  this 
glorious  confederation  of  States.  I  pray  you,  therefore,  gentle- 
men, in  your  return  to  your  constituents,  and  to  the  bosom  of 
your  families,  to  take  with  you,  as  your  guiding  thought  the 
sentiment  of  the  Constitution  and  the  Union.  And  with  this  I 
cordially  bid  you  farewell  until  the  prescribed  reassembling  of 
the  convention." 

The  withdrawing  members  assembled  (May  1st)  at  Military 
Hall  and  resolved  themselves  into  a  deliberative  body  by  elect- 
ing Senator  Bayard,  of  Delaware,  chairman,  and  selecting  eight 
vice-presidents  and  a  committee  on  resolutions. 

This  committee  was  composed  of  Messrs.  Stockdale,  of  Texas ; 
Erwin,  of  Alabama ;  Jackson,  of  Georgia ;  Hunter,  of  Louisiana  ; 
Barksdale,  of  Mississippi ;  Burrows,  of  Arkansas ;  Magowan,  of 
South  Carolina;  Whitely,of  Delaware,  and  Dike,  of  Florida. 

We  called  our  body  the  Constitutional  Democratic  Conven- 
tion. 

At  our  meeting  the  next  day  the  platform  committee  reported 
the  declaration  of  principles  recommended  in  the  majority  report 
previously  voted  down  in  the  Charleston  convention,  substitut- 
ing, however,  the  word  "Constitutional"  for  the  word  "National" 
wherever  it  occurred  in  that  document.  This  report  was  adopted 
nearly  unanimously. 

The  convention  then  adjourned  until  8  p.  m.,  at  which  time  it 
was  thought  a  presidential  ticket  would  be  made  out.  The  gen- 
eral talk  favored  the  nomination  of  Jefferson  Davis  for  Presi- 
dent, and  Chas.  O'Connor,  of  New  York,  for  Vice-President. 

At  the  evening  session  Judge  Winston,  of  Alabama,  denounced 
the  new  platform  as  a  humbug,  and  nominations  were  lost  sight 
of  in  the  stormy  debates  that  followed. 

The  upshot  of  the  discussion  was,  that  the  consideration  of 
nominations  was  postponed,  and  we  adjourned  to  meet  again  at 
Richmond,  Va.,  early  in  June,  at  which  time  it  was  agreed  nom- 
inations should  be  made  and  a  platform  promulgated. 


LUB BOOTS  MEMOIRS.  281 


This  action  was  taken  in  order  that  all  the  States  might  have 
an  opportunity  to  send  delegates. 

The  Constitutional  Democratic  convention  reassembled  at 
Richmond,  June  llth,  in  accordance  with  this  plan. 

I  was  elected  temporary  chairman. 

The  States  of  Louisiana,  Texas,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Geor- 
gia, Florida,  South  Carolina,  Arkansas,  Virginia,  and  New  York 
were  represented. 

After  the  appointment  of  a  committee  on  organization  and  one 
on  credentials,  the  convention  adjourned  to  await  reports. 

The  meeting  was  promptly  called  to  order  the  following  day 
at  the  hour  prescribed  at  adjournment.  The  attendance  of  dele- 
gates was  large,  all  the  seceding  States  being  fully  represented. 
The  hall  was  also  well  filled  with  ladies,  who  occupied  the  side 
seats. 

The  committees  having  reported  and  their  reports  having  been 
adopted,  the  convention  was  permanently  organized  by  electing 
Hon.  John  Erwin,  of  Alabama,  president,  and  vice-presidents 
and  secretaries  from  each  of  the  States  represented  except  New 
York. 

It  then  adjourned,  to  enable  the  members  to  attend  the  Balti- 
more convention,  which  met  on  the  18th.  Provision  was  made, 
however,  by  resolution,  for  reassembling  at  Richmond,  should 
President  Erwin  deem  it  advisable. 

This  line  of  proceedure  was  adopted  in  deference  to  the  advice 
of  Democratic  members  of  Congress,  who  had  issued  a  circular 
advising  us  to  pursue  that  course  and  endorsing  all  previous 
action  taken  by  us.  Nineteen  signatures  were  affixed  to  this 
circular,  among  others  those  of  John  Slidell,  Jefferson  Davis, 
L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  Robert  Toombs,  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  J.  M.  Mason, 
J.  P.  Benjamin,  and  Jno.  H.  Reagan. 

The  idea  was  for  us  to  participate  in  the  regular  convention  at 
Baltimore  and  if  possible,  without  stultification  or  surrender  of 
^principle,  get  a  satisfactory  platform  adopted;  but,  if  we  failed 
in  that,  to  reassemble  at  Richmond  and  put  out  candidates.30 

3  °  This  action  of  the  convention  goes  to  show  how  loath  were  its  mem- 
bers to  accept  as  permanent  the  disruption  of  the  National  Democratic 
party  till  all  honorable  means  were  tried  to  restore  its  integrity. 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  Baltimore  convention  met  in  the  Front  Street  Theater, 
that  city,  June  18th  and  was  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Gushing. 

0*n  roll-call  of  States,  the  following  responded :  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Vermont,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut, 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  California  and  Oregon — twenty- 
four  in  all.  In  calling  the  roll  of  the  States,  the  names  of  those 
whose  delegations  had  withdrawn  from  the  convention  at 
Charleston  were  omitted. 

In  addressing  the  convention,  Mr.  Gushing  said:  "Gentle- 
men, we  assemble  here  now,  at  a  time  when  the  enemies  of  the 
Democratic  party — let  me  say  the  enemies  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  [applause] — are  in  the  field  with  their  se- 
lected leader  (Abraham  Lincoln),  with  their  banners  displayed, 
advancing  to  the  combat  with  the  constitutional-interests  party 
of  the  United  States;  and  upon  you,  gentlemen,  upon  your 
actions,  upon  your  spirit  of  harmony,  upon  your  devotion  to  the 
Constitution,  upon  your  solicitude  to  maintain  the  interests,  the 
honor,  and  integrity  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  the  guardian 
of  the  Constitution;  upon  you  it  depends  whether  the  issue 
of  that  combat  is  to  be  victory  or  defeat  for  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States." 

Considerable  speech  making  was  indulged  in  as  to  whether 
delegates  from  States  whose  representatives  had  withdrawn  from 
the  convention  at  Charleston  should  be  admitted  to  seats,  if  they 
applied  for  that  privilege.  It  was  at  first  mild  and  courteous, 
but  afterwards  bitter  and  harsh  in  expression. 

Mr.  A.  A.  King,  of  Missouri,  said :  "The  protest  of  Texas  in 
withdrawing  from  the  Charleston  convention,  was,  next  to  Flor- 
ida, the  most  insulting  of  all,  and  their  withdrawal  was  absolute 
and  unconditional.  They  even  protested  against  allowing  any- 
body else  to  represent  the  State.  .  .  .  The  Richmond  con- 
vention has  not  adjourned,  but  simply  taken  a  recess,  its  mem-t 
bers  come  here  only  for  mischief,  and  if  they  can  not  have 
their  own  way,  intend  to  go  back  and  .  .  .  nominate  some 
man  and  run  him  against  the  regular  nominee  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  made  here.''1  They  should  never  be  admitted  to  the 
Baltimore  convention  by  his  vote,  said  he,  so  help  him  God. 
[Applause.] 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  283 


King  might  have  saved  his  temper  and  his  manners,  as  we 
did  not  desire  to  further  participate  in  the  deliberations  of  a 
convention  that  had  so  rudely  denied  to  us  any  recognition  of 
our  rights. 

Mr.  West,  of  Connecticut,  said :  "The  seceders  went  out  be- 
cause the  majority  would  not  adopt  a  platform  which  would  de- 
stroy the  party  in  every  free  State.  .  .  ."  and  that  he  would 
do  as  much  as  anyone  to  save  the  Union;  but,  if  the  South 
would  go,  he  would  say,  "good-by,  Hal." 

The  credentials  committee  report  (which  was  adopted)  rec- 
ommended the  seating  of  the  Texas  delegation,  and  contesting 
delegations,  instead  of  the  regular  delegations,  from  the  other 
withdrawing  States.  The  Texas  delegation  declined  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  proffered  opportunity  of  playing  tail  to  the  kite 
of  the  Douglass  machine,  and  simply  remained  in  the  hall  as  on- 
lookers. Had  all  the  regular  delegations  been  invited  to  seats,  it 
is  possible  that  Texas  might  have,  with  the  others,  accepted  and 
made  one  more  effort  to  heal  the  breach  and  select,  on  a  just  plat- 
form, a  nominee  for  the  whole  party.  The  seating  of  the  irregu- 
lar delegations  and  the  tone  of  the  speeches  delivered  convinced 
the  representatives  of  Southern  Democracy  that  they  had  noth- 
ing to  expect  and  that  the  fixed  determination  was  to  adhere 
to  positions  already  taken  and  nominate  Mr.  Douglas,  let  the 
consequences  to  the  party  and  country  be  what  they  would. 

Mr.  Gaulden,  of  Georgia,  said  that  he  proposed  to  remain  in 
the  convention;  that  he  was  for  maintaining  the  integrity  of  the 
National  Democratic  party;  that  he  belonged  to  the  extreme 
South,  and  that  he  was  pro-slavery  "in  every  sense  of  the  word; 
yea,  an  African  slave  trade  man." 

Mr.  Claiborne,  of  Missouri,  was  severe  on  the  seceders,  stating 
that  "he  had  heard  no  one  say  they  could  elect  their  nominees; 
they  only  hoped  to  give  the  Southern  States  to  Bell  and  Everett ; 
and,  if  there  was  anything  that  the  Southern  Democracy  dis- 
liked, next  to  abolitionism,  it  was  the  fossil  remains  of  Whiggery 
and  Know-Nothingism."  .  .  .  These  men  would  all  re- 
pent," said  he,  "of  bolting,  and  come  back  in  less  than  four 
years." 

The  convention  soon  began  to  crumble  and  fall  to  pieces,  a 
number  of  State  delegations  (principally  Southern)  withdraw- 


284  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ing,  among  the  number,  those  from  Delaware,  Virginia,  Ken- 
tucky, North  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Oregon,  and  California. 

On  the  presentation  of  a  motion  to  proceed  to  the  nomination 
and  selection  of  candidates,  Mr.  Gushing  arose  and  addressed  the 
convention,  saying:  "The  delegations  of  a  majority  of  the 
States  having,  in  whole  or  in  part,  in  one  form  or  another,  ceased 
to  participate  in  the  deliberations  of  this  convention.  ...  I 
deem  it  my  duty  to  resign  my  seat  as  president  of  the  convention 
[prolonged  cheering  in  the  galleries],  in  order  to  take  my  seat  on 
the  floor  as  a  member  of  the  delegation  from  Massachusetts,  and 
to  abide  whatever  may  be  the  determination  of  that  delegation  in 
regard  to  its  future  action." 

Governor  Tod,  of  Ohio,  one  of  the  vice-presidents,  took  the 
chair  amidst  prolonged  applause. 

Mr.  Butler  then  stated  that  he  and  others,  constituting  part  of 
the  Massachusetts  delegation,  desired  to  retire.  He  said  this 
action  was  taken  for  the  reason  that  a  majority  of  the  States  had, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  withdrawn ;  and  that,  speaking  to  a  matter 
personal  to  himself,  he  could  not,  and  would  not  sit  in  a  conven- 
tion where  the  African  slave  trade,  denounced  by  the  laws  of  his 
country  as  a  heinous  crime,  was  openly  advocated.  [Applause.] 

This  was  a  misrepresentation  on  the  part  of  Butler,  based  on 
the  remarks  of  Mr.  Gaulden,  of  Georgia,  whose  boast  that  he  wa8 
in  favor  of  it  had  been  received  in  contemptuous  silence,  until 
Butler's  righteous  soul  ( ?)  stirred  it  up  again. 

Butler  withdrew,  followed  by  Mr.  Gushing  and  four  others  of 
the  Massachusetts  delegation. 

Mr.  Soule,  of  Louisiana,  one  of  the  bogus  delegates  from 
Louisiana,  on  being  loudly  called  for,  addressed  the  convention, 
saying  that  he  stood  with  John  C.  Calhoun  on  the  doctrine  of 
nonintervention  in  the  territories,  and  where  Calhoun  could 
stand,  Southern  men  need  not  fear  to  stand;  secession  from 
the  convention  meant  disunion;  the  Northern  abolitionists 
wanted  Congress  to  exclude  slavery  from  the  territories ;  South- 
ern gentlemen  wanted  congressional  protection  for  slavery  in 
the  territories;  "the  true  doctrine  was  that  advocated  by  Mr. 
Douglas,  nonintervention  ;"  the  gentlemen  who  had  seceded  from 
the  convention  knew  that  the  mass  of  their  people  at  home 
would  not  sustain  them,  and  the  best  proof  of  it  was,  that  in  no 


LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


State  where  delegations  had  seceded  had  the  seceders  called  a 
fair  convention  of  the  people  to  put  to  the  test  their  pretensions 
— and  much  more  of  the  like.  This  did  not  apply,  so  far  as  we 
were  concerned,  as  the  Texas  delegation  had  not  returned  home 
to  agitate  any  such  question. 

To  render  Mr.  Douglas'  nomination  absolutely  certain,  the 
two-thirds  rule  was  now  so  modified  as  to  mean  only  two-thirds 
of  the  delegates  in  the  convention.  Two-thirds  of  the  votes  of 
all  the  delegates  from  all  the  States  was  the  rule  at  Charleston. 

On  the  first  ballot  Douglas  received  173|  votes;  Guthrie,  9; 
Breckenridge,  6| ;  Bocock,  1 ;  Seymour,  1 ;  Dickinson,  \ ;  Wise,  £ 
vote. 

The  second  ballot  gave  Douglas  181£  votes,  Breckenridge,  7£, 
and  Guthrie,  5£  votes. 

The  nomination  of  Douglas  was  then,  on  motion,  made  unani- 
mous, the  resolution  declaring  him  to  be  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  "Democratic  Union  Party"  for  president.  Delegates  leaped 
to  their  feet,  hats  were  waved  in  the  air,  and  many  tossed  aloft ; 
shouts,  screams,  and  yells,  and  every  boisterous  mode  of  express- 
ing approbation  was  resorted  to.  This  demonstration  at  an 
end,  telegrams  conveying  congratulations  from  various  Northern 
States  were  opened  as  they  were  received  and  read  to  the  con- 
vention, each  reading  being  followed  by  cheering. 

The  following  resolution,  explanatory  of  Douglas'  platform, 
was  offered  by  Mr.  Wickliffe,  of  Louisiana,  and  adopted  by  the 
convention : 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  in  accordance  with  the  true  interpreta- 
tion of  the  Cincinnati  platform  that,  during  the  existence  of  the 
territorial  government,  the  measure  of  restriction,  whatever  it 
may  be,  imposed  by  the  Federal  Constitution  on  the  powers  of 
the  territorial  legislature  over  the  subject  of  domestic  relations, 
as  the  same  has  been  or  shall  hereafter  be  finally  determined  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  should  be  respected  by 
all  good  citizens  and  enforced  with  promptness  and  fidelity  by 
every  branch  of  the  government." 

Mr.  Eichardson,  of  Illinois,  now  let  out,  in  an  oracular  way, 
what  he  seemed  to  believe  was  a  great  secret,  viz :  that  Mr.  Doug- 
las would  actually  accept  the  nomination  that  had  just  been 
made.  It  would  have  been  strange  indeed  if  he  would  not 


286  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


accept  what  he  had  been  scheming  and  working  to  obtain  for  ten 
years. 

In  announcing  the  result  of  the  vote  on  the  question  of  ad- 
journment sine  die,  President  Tod  said :  "Victory  in  this  con- 
test, fellow  Democrats,  is  in  our  hands.  [Applause.]  We  have 
only  to  continue  sternly,  firmly,  patiently,  fairly,  and  honor- 
ably in  the  discharge  of  our  duties,  as  we  have  done  since  we 
met  in  Charleston,  to  crown  our  efforts  with  entire  success. 

"Wishing  you  all  a  safe  return  to  your  homes,  ...  I 
now  declare  this  convention  adjourned  without  day,  and  bid  you 
all  good-bye." 

The  convention  then,  at  10  a.  m.,  June  23,  1860,  adjourned.31 

81  During  the  sitting  of  the  convention  there  were  a  number  of  con- 
sultations between  us  and  our  friends  in  that  body,  with  the  object  of 
deciding,  if  possible,  upon  some  basis  of  agreement  that  would  unite 
the  two  wings  of  the  party  and  enable  them  to  act  together  in  the 
nomination  of  candidates  and  the  promulgation  of  a  platform  —  all,  as 
has  been  seen,  without  avail.  On  the  adjournment  of  one  of  these 
meetings  in  which  I  had  acted  as  chairman  of  the  Texas  delegation, 
Col.  Bryan  being  absent,  and  when  we  had  walked  out  into  the  streets 
Hon.  Samuel  J.  Raudall  came  face  to  face  with  a  man  named  Mont- 
gomery and  at  once  struck  him  several  blows  with  a  cane.  Seeing  that 
Montgomery  was  a  powerful  man,  I  handed  Randall  a  pistol  and  told 
him  not  to  let  Montgomery  hit  him.  A  crowd  quickly  gathered,  Ran- 
dall stood  his  ground,  and  Montgomery  slunk  off.  It  seems  that  Mont- 
gomery had  insulted  Randall's  father  in  a  speech  delivered  in  the 
Douglas  convention  a  few  days  before.  The  New  York  Herald  published 
next  morning  an  exaggerated  account  of  the  street  difficulty,  stating 
that  Col.  Guy  M.  Bryan  had  handed  the  pistol  to  Randall.  The  colonel 
and  I  being  of  about  the  same  stature,  the  Herald  correspondent,  learn- 
ing that  a  small  man  from  Texas  had  thus  assisted  the  Pennsylvanian, 
at  once  reached  the  conclusion  that  it  was  Bryan,  and  so  stated.  Colonel 
Bryan  was  very  much  incensed,  and  wanted  to  send  a  communication 
to  the  Herald.  I  kept  very  dark,  but  said  to  the  colonel:  "Lot  it  go; 
what  is  the  use  of  bothering  about  it  ?  Nothing  more  will  ever  come  of 
it,  and  it  will  only  cause  the  Herald  to  come  back.  Don't  notice  it." 
He  followed  my  advice  and  let  it  pass.  Some  time  afterwards  I  told 
him  how  it  all  happened,  and  that  I  was  the  bad  boy  who  handed  the 
pistol.  Owing  to  the  high  tension  prevailing  nearly  every  man  in  Bal- 
timore was  armed  at  the  time,  myself  among  the  number,  all  holding 
themselves  in  readiness  for  whatever  might  arise. 

Hon.  Samuel  J.  Randall  later  became  a  distinguished  statesman,  and 
during  the  dark  days  that  followed  the  war  was  an  active,  able,  and 
fearless  defender  of  the  South  in  Congress. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  287 


Our  delegates  met  in  National  Democratic  convention  in  the 
hall  of  the  Maryland  Institute,  at  Baltimore,  at  noon,  June  23, 
1860. 

Charless  W.  Eussell,  of  Virginia,  was  called  to  the  chair.  On 
taking  his  seat,  Mr.  Eussell  said,  among  other  things  : 

"The  convention  assembled  elsewhere,  and  from  which  you 
have  withdrawn,  has  lost  all  title  to  the  designation  of  national. 
.  .  .  You  and  those  whom  you  represent  are  a  majority  of 
the  people  of  the  Democracy  and  of  the  Democratic  States.  [Ap- 
plause.] They  will  look  to  you  to  perform  the  functions  of  a 
National  Democratic  convention,  and  you  will  be  so  recognized 
alike  by  the  North  and  the  South,  the  East  and  the  West. 
[Cheers.] 

"I  have  every  confidence  that  you  will  stand  upon  these  prin- 
ciples and  will  be  able  to  defend  the  Democratic  party,  protect 
the  rights  of  all  the  States,  and  maintain  the  Constitution  against 
all  enemies,  open  or  insidious."  [Applause.] 

Messrs.  Walker,  of  Alabama;  McHenry,  of  Pennsylvania; 
Stevens,  of  Oregon;  Williams,  of  Massachusetts,  and  Fisher,  of 
Virginia,  were,  on  motion,  appointed  a  committee  on  organiza- 
tion. 

On  call  of  the  States,  it  was  discovered  that  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  Ehode  Island,  Connecticut,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota  were  unrepresented  by 
delegates.  Vermont  had  1,  Masachusetts  16,  New  York  2,  Penn- 
sylvania, —  ,  New  Jersey,  no  representative,  Delaware,  —  ,  Vir- 
ginia 23,  North  Carolina  16,  Alabama  36,  Mississippi  14,  Louis- 
iana 14,  Texas  8,  Arkansas  9,  Missouri  2,  Tennessee  19,  Ken- 
tucky 10,  California  4,  Oregon  3,  Maryland  9,  South  Carolina, 
no  representative,  Florida  6.  Iowa  asked  for  representation 
through  her  two  sons,  H.  H.  Heath,  of  Dubuque,  and  John 
Johns,  of  Davenport. 

The  committee  on  permanent  organization  recommended  the 
election  of  the  following  permanent  officers  : 

President,  Hon.  Caleb  Gushing;  vice-presidents  and  secre- 
taries (the  first  named  being  vice-presidents  and  the  second  sec- 
retaries) :  Pennsylvania,  V.  L.  Bradford  and  David  Fist;  Vir- 
ginia, 0.  E.  Funsten  and  W.  P.  Cooper;  Oregon,  A.  P.  Denison 
and  H.  E.  Crosbie  ;  California,  J.  E.  Dresbit  ;  Tennessee,  J.  0.  C. 


\f\^.  -  "A 


288  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Atkins  and  D.  D.  Withers;  Kentucky,  J.  S.  Kenrick;  North 
Carolina,  Bedford  Brown  and  S.  W.  Humphrey ;  Mississippi,  W. 
F.  Featherston  and  C.  J.  Armistead ;  Georgia,  H.  S.  Benning  and 
F.  H.  West;  Vermont,  H.  E.  Stoughton;  Missouri,  M.  J.  Mc- 
Elhany ;  Louisiana,  Eichard  Taylor;  Alabama,  R.  G.  Scott  and 
N.  H.  R.  Dawson;  Arkansas,  Josiah  Gould  and  F..W.  Hoadley; 
Maryland,  W.  $.  Bowie  and  E.  S.  F.  Hardcastle;  Delaware, W.  H. 
Ross  and  W.  G.  Whitely;  Texas,  H.  R.  Runnels  and  Thos.  P. 
Ochiltree;  Florida,  B.  F.  Wardlaw  and  J.  J.  Williams. 

The  committee's  report  was.  adopted  unanimously. 

Mr.  Gushing  was  conducted  to  the  chair  by  Messrs.  McHenry, 
of  Pennsylvania,  Walker,  of  Alabama,  and  Stevens,  of  Oregon. 

President  Gushing  was  greeted  with  cheers  and  the  most  deaf- 
ening applause. 

On  taking  the  chair  he  said :  "Gentlemen  of  the  Convention : 
We  assemble  here,  delegates  to  the  National  Democratic  conven- 
tion, duly  accredited  thereto  from  more  than  twenty  States  of 
the  Union,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candidates  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  for  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President  of 
the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of  announcing  the  principles 
of  the  party,  and  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  and  re-establish- 
ing that  party  upon  the  firm  foundations  of  the  Constitution, 
the  Union,  and  the  coequal  rights  of  the  several  States."  [Loud 
applause.] 

Mr.  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  moved  that  the  gentlemen  (then 
on  the  floor)  who  had  been  appointed  on  the  platform  committee 
at  Charleston,  be  requested  to  report  at  once. 

To  Butler's  motion,  I  objected,  as  being  premature  and  hasty, 
saying:  "The  committee  on  credentials  have  not  yet  reported, 
and  it  is  essential  that  we  should  have  our  proceedings  perfected, 
so  that  we  can  go  before  the  country  with  a  clear  and  regular 
record.  This  is  no  trifling  assemblage,  and  I  conscientiously  be- 
lieve that  the  nominees  of  this  convention  will  be  the  next  Presi- 
dent and  Vice-Prosident  of  the  United  States.  Let  us  therefore 
proceed  with  regularity  and  according  to  Democratic  usage.". 

Butler's  motion,  though  supported  with  a  speech  by  Mr.  John- 
.  son,  of  Maryland,  failed,  and  the  proceedings  took  the  usual 
course. 

At  Butler's  request,  he  was  relieved  from  duty  on  the  commit- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  289 


tee  on  platform,  and  B.  F.  Hallett,  of  Massachusetts,  who  was  not 
present  at  Charleston,  appointed  in  his  stead. 

Mr.  Hunter,  of  Louisiana,  moved  that  the  delegates  to  the 
Richmond  convention  be  requested  to  unite  with  their  brethren 
of  the  National  Democratic  convention,  if  they  felt  authorized 
to  do  so.  Adopted. 

The  committee  on  credentials'  report  was  submitted  and 
adopted. 

The  members  of  our  delegation  at  Baltimore  were:  Guy  M. 
Bryan,  H.  R.  Runnels,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  J.  F.  Crosby,  T.  P.  Ochil- 
tree,  and  myself. 

Mr.  Avery,  of  North  Carolina,  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
resolutions,  reported  the  identical  resolutions  presented  as  the 
majority  report  at  Charleston,  and  they  were  adopted  unani- 
mously, the  result  being  loudly  cheered. 

Nominations  being  now  in  order,  Mr.  Loring,  of  Massachu- 
setts, said :  "We  have  no  personal  preferences.  Our  desire  is  to- 
present  the  name  of  a  man  here,  in  whom  we  feel  confidence  and 
hope, — one  who  stands  aloof  from  all  personal  obligations,  who 
has  no  friends  to  favor,  and  no  enemies  to  punish.  We  desire  to 
present  the  name  of  a  man  who  has,  in  all  his  actions,  thrilled 
our  hearts  with  his  gallantry  and  courage,  and  confirmed  our 
faith  by  his  devoted  zeal  for  the  Constitution  and  the  Union. 
.  .  .  In  behalf  of  the  Democratic  delegates  of  Massachusetts, 
who  hold  their  seats  in  this  hall,  I  name  as  your  candidate  for  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States,  John  C.  Breckenridge,  of  Ken- 
tucky." [Applause.] 

The  nomination  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Denny,  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Ward,  of  Alabama,  presented  the  name  of  R.  M.  T.  Hun- 
ter, of  Virginia. 

Mr.  Ewing,  of  Tennessee,  said  in  presenting  the  name  of  Dick- 
inson, of  New  York:  "Everywhere  he  has  fought  our  battles. 
He  lives  where  the  Democratic  party  can  only  reach  him  through 
a  national  convention." 

The  name  of  Gen.  Joseph  Lane,  of  Oregon,  was  presented  by 
Mr.  Stevens,  of  Oregon. 

Mr.  Matthews,  of  Mississippi,  said:  "The  State  convention, 
in  appointing  us  delegates,  gave  an  expression  of  opinion  in  re- 
gard to  the  selection  of  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  They  in- 
19 


290  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


structed  us  to  present  to  the  Democratic  National  convention  the 
name  of  one  of  her  most  distinguished  sons  for  that  position — a 
name  not  unknown  to  history — the  name  of  a  gallant  son  whose 
name  is  connected  with  the  most  gallant  deeds  of  the  army  of  the 
United  States — the  distinguished  curator,  statesman,  and  lawyer, 
Jefferson  Davis.  [Applause.]  But,  with  the  concurrence  of  that 
distinguished  individual,  the  Mississippi  delegation  have  deter- 
mined, for  the  sake  of  harmony,,  for  the  sake  of  peace,  for  the 
sake  of  principle,  to  withdraw  that  distinguished  name."  [Cries 
of  "Good,  good,"  and  applause.] 

In  the  same  spirit  of  peace  and  principle,  the  names  of  the 
other  candidates  were  withdrawn. 

On  the  first  ballot  Mr.  Breckenridge  received  all  the  votes  cast, 
amounting  to  105£. 

President  Gushing,  amidst  immense  applause,  declared  Mr. 
Breckenridge  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  convention  for  Presi- 
dent. 

For  Vive-President,  Mr.  Green,  of  North  Carolina,  put  in 
nomination  Gen.  Joseph  Lane,  and  it  was  seconded  by  C.  L. 
Scott,  of  California. 

No  other  name  being  presented  for  the  office,  the  States  were 
called  and  they  voted  unanimously  for  Gen.  Lane.  The  nomi- 
nation of  Vice-President  was  then  announced. 

Yancey,  being  loudly  called  for,  stepped  on  the  platform. 

The  flow  of  thoughts  with  Mr.  Yancey  was  like  the  flow  of  a 
majestic  river  (an  Amazon  moving  between  banks  like  those  of 
the  Hudson),  and  his  expression  of  thorn  was  in  tones  as  melo- 
dious and  thrilling  as  those  of  a  band  of  fine  music,  and  in  words 
such  as  fell  from  the  lips  of  perhaps  no  other  man — they  were 
certainly  not  surpassed  in  ancient  times  by  Demosthenes,  Cicero, 
or  Hortensius,  nor  in  modern  by  the  Earl  of  Chatham,  Patrick 
Henry,  Webster,  or  Mr.  Clay.  The  recollection  of  him  as  a  great 
orator  that  has  survived  to  this  time  is  well  founded  in  fact.  He 
was  a  true  patriot,  a  fearless  champion  of  the  cause  of  constitu- 
tional liberty,  and  was  justly  idolized  by  the  Southern  people.  In 
his  speech  before  the  Baltimore  convention  he  vehemently  dis- 
claimed being  a  disunionist  at  that  time.  He  said  he  had  been, 
ten  years  before,  when  the  Constitution  had  been  violated  by  the 
admission  of  California  into  the  Union,  when  the  principle  of 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  291 


squatter  sovereignty  had  been  recognized,  and  when  the  bringing 
of  slaves  into,  or  taking  them  out  of,  the  District  of  Columbia, 
for  the  purpose  of  sale,  had  been  prohibited  by  congressional  leg- 
islation— the  latter  act  initiating  the  policy  of  abolition ;  but  that 
his  state  (Alabama)  had  then  chosen  to  remain  in  the  Union, 
and  that,  bowing  to  her  decision,  he  had  since  that  time  urged  no 
measure  even  remotely  contemplating  disunion,  but  had  bent 
every  energy  of  heart  and  brain  to  preserve  the  existing  Federal 
compact  in  the  only  way  it  could  be  possibly  preserved,  viz.,  by  all 
parties  thereto  living  up  to  its  terms,  in  letter  and  spirit.  The 
accusation  that  he  had  been  urging  his  friends  to  disunion,  and 
to  the  disruption  of  the  Democratic  party,  was,  said  he,  utterly 
false.  "I  am,  however,"  said  Mr.  Yancy,  "no  worshiper  at  the 
shrine  of  the  Union.  I  am  no  Union  shrieker.  I  meet  great 
questions  fairly,  on  their  own  merits.  ...  I  am  neither  for 
the  Union,  nor  against  the  Union.  ...  I  urge,  or  oppose, 
measures  upon  the  ground  of  their  constitutionality  and  wisdom, 
or  the  reverse.  When  the  government  confessedly  becomes  a  fail- 
ure so  far  as  the  great  rights  of  the  equality  of  the  States  and  of 
the  people  of  the  States  are  concerned,  then  its  organization  is 
but  an  instrument  for  the  destruction  of  constitutional  liberty; 
and,  taking  lessons  from  our  ancestors,  we  should  overthrow  it. 
.  By  a  certain  rule  adopted  at  Charleston,  known  as  the 
unit  rule,  a  minority  of  the  Democratic  party  were  enabled  to 
control  the  votes  of  a  majority  of  those  present.  The  principles 
of  the  Democratic  party,  as  unanimously  reported  and  adopted 
by  this  body,  were  voted  down  by  means  of  that  same  rule,  by  a 
vote  of  165  to  138,  as  the  real  sentiments  of  the  Democratic 
party,  at  Charleston,  while  in  fact  that  platform  was  the  choice 
of  a  majority — say  of  159  to  144.  .  .  .  And,  tell  me,  what 
other  name  can  be  given  a  body  thus  constituted,  destroying  the 
great  representative  rule  of  the  majority  by  means  of  a  trick, 
and  thus  controlling  the  deliberations  of  the  Democratic  party; 
tell  me,  what  other  name  shall  I  give  them,  for  I  wish  to  give 
them  only  the  name  that  properly  belongs  to  them  ?  Can  I  give 
them,  any  other  name  than  the  name  by  which  they  will  be 
damned  to  immortality — the  name  of  a  reckless  political  fac- 
tion!" [Applause.] 

Referring  to  the  fact  that  the  delegates  of  eight  States  were 


292  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


driven  out  of  the  convention  at  Charleston  by  the  rejection  of 
Democratic  principles,  and  to  the  fact  that  these  delegates  were 
sustained  by  their  home  people,  who,  in  a  spirit  of  harmony,  de- 
sired them  to  return  to  the  convention  at  Baltimore  to  make  an- 
other effort  for  reconciliation  on  principle,  in  order  that  the 
country,  the  Democracy,  and  the  Constitution  might  be  pre- 
served, Mr.  Yancey  said :  "We  came  here  in  good  faith  for  that 
purpose.  .  .  .  The  convention"  (at  Kichmond,  Va.,  called 
by  the  withdrawing  delegates  after  leaving  the  Charleston  con- 
vention) "reiterated  no  platform,  lest  it  might  be  deemed  a  dic- 
tation to  the  convention  here;  but  it  organized  temporarily  and 
adjourned.  We  came  here,  and  how  have  we  been  received  ?  By 
reason  of  eight  Southern  States  having  retired,  leaving  only 
twenty-five  States  represented  on  the  committee,  the  Douglas 
faction  had  control  of  the  committee  on  credentials,  and,  against 
every  usage  and  principle  of  the  Democratic  party,  the  bogus 
delegates  from  Alabama  and  Louisiana  were  admitted,  and  the 
regular  representatives  of  the  Democracy  of  each  of  these  States 
were  rejected." 

Mr.  Yancey  charged  Mr.  Douglas  with  bad  faith  as  to  Kansas 
and  the  Dred  Scott  decision,  as  he  then  held,  contrary  to  his  for- 
mer position,  that  the  people  of  a  territory  had  the  power  to  make 
it  free  or  slave,  as  they  thought  proper;  "this  last  enunciation, 
too,"  said  Mr.  Yancey,  "in  the  face  of  the  decision  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  on  the  Kansas  act. 

"An  assertion  of  the  principle  of  nonintervention  was  first 
insisted  upon  for  the  reason  that  our  friends  could  not  agree  as 
to  squatter  sovereignty,"  said  he,  "but  the  Federal  Supreme  Court 
having  decided  that  Congress  has  the  power,  coupled  with  the 
duty,  to  protect  rights  of  person  and  property  in  the  territories, 
this  doctrine  of  nonintervention  becomes  null  and  void,  and  the 
doctrine  of  protection  takes  its  place,  as  emphatically  and  fully 
as  if  written  out  in  the  Kansas  act.  The  South  has  the  benefit 
of  the  opinion  of  the  court,  and  is  not  wrong  in  insisting  on  re- 
ceiving a  full  ackTwwlc.dflment  of  its  decided  constitutional  right 
in  this  particular.  If  there  are  any  traitors, — any  repudiators 
of  the  Kansas  decision, — any  faithless  to  the  Cincinnati  plat- 
form,— they  arc  not  to  be  found  in  our  ranks.. 

"I  will  let  Mr.  Douglas  rest  where  his  friends  have  placed  him ; 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


contending,  however,  that  they  have  buried  him,  to-day,  beneath 
the  grave  of  squatter  sovereignty.  The  nomination  that  was 
made  (I  speak  it  prophetically)  was  made  to  be  defeated,  and  it 
is  bound  to  be  defeated.  [Applause.]  His  friends  themselves, 
unconsciously,  doubtless,  but  truthfully,  in  most  mournful  and 
lugubrious  strains,  heralded  him  to  the  political  grave  that  awaits 
not  only  them  but  him."  [Applause.] 

After  naming  our  nominees,  giving  a  sketch  of  the  political 
career  of  each,  and  glowingly  eulogizing  each  in  turn,  Mr.  Yan- 
cey  said  in  conclusion: 

"The  telismanic  words  'Breckenridge  and  Lane'  will  be  in- 
scribed upon  our  banners,  and  we  will  bear  them  onward  to  vic- 
tory, if  God  wills ;  not  as  emblems  of  party,  or  personal  success, 
but  as  words  indicative  of  our  regard  for  and  determination  at 
all  hazards  to  uphold  and  abide  by  what  are  far  dearer  to  ua  and 
of  far  more  value  to  the  whole  country — Truth,  Justice,  and  the 
Constitution."  [Loud  and  prolonged  applause.] 

President  Gushing  was  tendered  the  thanks  of  the  body  for 
the  able  manner  in  which  he  had  presided  over  the  deliberations 
of  the  convention. 

Amid  great  applause  and  cries  of  "Gushing!  Gushing!"  Mr. 
Gushing  stepped  forward  and  said :  "Gentlemen  of  the  Conven- 
tion— I  beg  you  to  accept  the  expression  of  my  heartfelt  acknowl- 
edgment of  your  thanks.  I  do  not  intend  to  say  anything  more 
except  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  most  felicitous  and  auspi- 
cious termination  of  your  labors,  both  in  the  adoption  of  your 
platform  and  in  the  nomination  of  your  candidates." 

Mr.  Gushing  was  then  by  resolution,  authorized  to  appoint 
committees,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  convention,  to  look 
after  the  campaign  and  take  whatever  other  action  might  be 
found  necessary  for  the  promotion  of  party  success. 

Thanks  were  next  tendered  to  the  local  committee  for  provid- 
ing accommodations,  and  to  the  citizens  of  Baltimore  for  their 
hospitality. 

The  national  executive  committee  were  authorized  and  re- 
quested to  publish  the  proceedings  of  the  National  Democratic 
convention,  from  its  organization  at  Charleston  to  its  adjourn- 
ment in  Baltimore. 

These  and  other  minor  matters  being  disposed  of,  the  conven- 


294  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tion,  on  motion,  adjourned  sine  die  and  took  its  place  in  his- 
tory, a  place  that  has  been  obscured  by  later  partisan  writers, 
but  is  now  coming  to  be  properly  understood — a  place  among 
the  great  assemblages  of  freemen  that  have  met  in  the  course  of 
the  history  of  the  English-speaking  race  to  voice  the  will  and 
take  action  for  the  defense  of  the  liberties  of  the  people.32 


••It  may  be  woll  to  state  here,  in  evidence  of  the  regularity  of  our 
proceedings,  that  ex-President  Pierce  and  President  Buchanan  both 
supported  the  Breckenridge  ticket. — E0. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  295 


CHAPTER  SEVENTEEN. 

Anti-Democratic  Politics  —  Constitutional  Union  Convention  —  Bell 
Nominated  —  Platform  —  Houston  Announces  as  the  People's  Candi- 
date for  President  —  Lincoln  and  the  Republican  Party —  The  Feeling 
in  Texas  Over  Lincoln's  Election  —  The  Secession  Convention — Texas 
Joins  the  Confederate  States — 'The  Committee  on  Public  Safety  — 
Failure  of  All  Peace  Overtures  from  the  South — War  Begins. 

In  the  interval  between  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore  Demo- 
cratic conventions  the  Constitutional  Union  party  held  a  con- 
vention at  Baltimore. 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  John  J.  Crittenden  on 
May  9th. 

Washington  Hunt,  of  New  York,  was  elected  chairman.  Nine- 
teen vice-presidents  and  eleven  secretaries  were  appointed. 

All  the  States,  with  the  exception  of  Oregon  and  South  Caro- 
lina, were  represented. 

The  platform  was  a  vague  and  latitudinous  declaration  in 
favor  of  "The  Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  enforcement  of 
the  laws," — a  mere  dodge  of  living  issues. 

Col.  A.  B.  Norton  and  John  H.  Manly,  acting  in  the  interest 
of  General  Houston,  presented  themselves  at  the  door  of  the 
convention  and  asked  for  admittance  as  delegates  from  Texas. 
The  chair  announced  that  a  delegation  from  Texas  had  just  ar- 
rived and  were  waiting  at  the  door.  Escorted  by  General  Coombs. 
of  Kentucky,  they  entered  the  hall  amidst  the  cheers  of  the  con- 
vention. General  Coombs  introduced  Norton  as  the  man  with 
hair  on  his  face  and  head,  who  had  sworn  twelve  years  before  not 
to  have  his  hair  or  beard  cut  until  Henry  Clay  was  elected  Presi- 
dent. 

While  General  Coombs  evidently  considered  the  making  and 
keeping  of  this  oath  a  credit  to  Norton,  it  is  more  than  probable 
that  Mr.  Clay  would  have  regarded  it  as  anything  but  a  compli- 
ment to  himself. 

"When  Prentice,  the  editor  of  the  Louisville  Journal,  praised 
Jackson  very  highly,"  said  the  Telegraph,  "our  friend  Tom  Lub- 
bock  swore  that  the  old  hero's  bones  rattled  so  loud  in  their 


296  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


coffin  that  lie  heard  them  all  the  way  to  Texas."  If  the  bones  of 
Jackson  rattled  under  such  circumstances,  we  can  imagine  a 
cold  shiver  of  disgust  upon  the  part  of  Mr.  Clay  looking  down 
from  his  bright  abode  upon  the  Constitutional  Union  conven- 
tion. 

The  leading  candidates  put  forward  before  the  convention  for 
the  presidential  nomination  were  Sam  Houston,  John  Bell,  and 
John  J.  Crittenden. 

On  the  first  ballot  Houston  received '57  votes,  Bell  68£,  Ever- 
ett 25,  McLean  22,  Graham  27,  Sharkey  6,  Crittenden  28,  Gog- 
gan  3,  Bates  9J,  and  Rives  3. 

On  the  second  ballot,  many  weak  candidates  having  dropped 
out,  John  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  was  nominated  for  President  and 
Edward  Everett,  of  Massachusetts,  for  Vice-President,  both  by 
acclamation.33 

Early  in  May  (after  the  Baltimore  convention)  a  mass  meet- 
ing was  held  on  the  San  Jacinto  battlefield  to  promote  Hous- 
ton's candidacy,  and  Mr.  Manly  informed  the  General  that  he 
was  recommended  by  that  meeting  "to  the  nation,  as  the  people's 
candidate  for  the  presidency  at  the  next  election."  To  which 
Houston  replied,  that  if  the  independent  masses  of  the  country 
deemed  his  name  important  in  connection  with  the  presidency, 
they  had  a  right  to  use  it.  He  concluded  thus :  "I  have  noticed 
in  the  proceedings  of  the  late  Baltimore  convention  that  my 
name  was  submitted  to  that  body  and  balloted  for.  Justice  to 
myself  compels  me  to  say  that,  while  I  appreciate  the  regard 
manifested  for  me  by  the  numerous  gentlemen  who  voted  for  me 
on  that  occasion,  the  use  of  my  name  was  entirely  unauthorized 
by  me,  and  opposed  to  my  well-known  opinions." 

Houston  had  said  in  the  preceding  March:  "If  my  name 
should  bo  used  in  connection  with  the  presidency,  the  movement 
must  originate  with  the  people  themselves,  as  well  as  end  with 
them.  I  will  not  consent  to  have  my  name  submitted  to  any  con- 
vention, nor  would  I  accept  a  nomination  if  it  were  tendered  me, 
procured  by  contrivance,  trick,  or  management.  The  people 
alone  have  the  nominating  power,  as  they  have  that  of  election." 

'•  The  small  vote  cast  for  the  Constitutional  Union  candidates  affords 
another  illustration  that  ills  in  the  body  politic  can  not  be  cured  by 
"glittering  generalities." — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  297 


It  would  be  curious  to  know  how  the  people  at  large  could 
make  a  nomination  save  through  the  agency  of  a  convention. 
But,  such  is  politics ! 

The  declarations  made  by  General  Houston  in  March  were 
merely  tentative. 

Upon  being  formally  notified  of  the  proceedings  of  the  San 
Jacinto  mass  meeting,  he  wrote  the  following  letter: 

"AUSTIN,  TEXAS,  May  24,  1860. 
"D.  D.  II.  Atkinson  and  J.  W.  Harris: 

"Gentlemen — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  14th  instant,  I 
will  say  that  I  have  responded  to  the  people  at  San  Jacinto  and 
consented  to  let  my  name  go  before  the  country  as  the  People's 
candidate  for  President. 

"In  yielding  to  the  call  of  my  fellow-citizens  of  Texas  in  June 
last  to  become  a  candidate  for  Governor,  I  said :  'The  Constitu- 
tion and  the  Union  embrace  the  only  principles  by  which  I  will 
be  governed,  if  elected.  They  comprehend  all  the  old  Jackson 
National  Democracy  I  ever  professed  or  officially  practiced.' 

"These  have  ever  guided  my  actions.  I  have  no  principles  to 
announce.  Thine  truly, 

"SAM  HOUSTON." 

A.  D.  McCutchan,  editor  of  the  Red  Land  Express,  published 
at  San  Augustine,  claimed  in  the  issue  of  his  paper  of  January 
23,  1860,  that  great  mass  meetings  were  being  held  in  New  York 
City,  advocating  Gen.  Sam  Houston  as  their  choice  for  Presi- 
dent, and  that  on  the  platform  at  one  of  these  meetings  a  large 
portrait  of  the  general  was  displayed,  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion: 

"For  President,  General  Sam  Houston.  An  honest  man  no 
party  platform  needs,  He  follows  right  and  goes  where  justice 
leads." 

McCutchan  gave  the  following  as  an  extract  from  the  resolu- 
tions adopted :  "We  declare  our  opinion  that  Gen.  Sam  Houston, 
of  Texas,  is  pre-eminently  the  right  man  for  the  present  times, 
when  our  whole  country  is  disturbed  by  the  schemes  of  agitators, 
corrupt  conventions,  traitors,  and  partisan  demagogues;  and  that 
responding  to  the  sentiments  of  our  fellow-citizens  of  Texas,  as 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


expressed  on  the  battleground  of  San  Jacinto,  we  hereby  nomi- 
nate by  acclamation,  for  President  of  the  United  States,  the 
veteran  statesman,  the  tried  soldier,  the  incorruptible  citizen, 
Gen.  Sam  Houston,  of  Texas." 

It  becoming  apparent  in  September  that  there  was  no  pros- 
pect of  a  successful  issue  to  his  canvass,  General  Houston  with- 
drew from  the  race,  making  the  announcement  in  a  card,  in 
which  he  said:  "I  desire  to  see  Texas  present  a  united  front 
against  the  effort  to  maintain  here  a  sectional  party,  and  to  this 
end  I  desire  to  say  that  it  is  my  wish  that  the  electors  associated 
with  my  name  shall  be  perfectly  free  to  cast  the  electoral  vote  of 
Texas  for  any  national  man  most  likely  to  defeat  either  sec- 
tionalism or  disunion/"'  This  "national  man"  was  supposed  to 
be,  in  the  mind's-eye  of  General  Houston,  either  Bell  or  Douglas, 
while  Lincoln  stood  for  sectionalism,  and  Breckenridge  for  dis- 
union. 

Abraham  Lincoln34  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  Presi- 
dent on  a  platform  of  implacable  hostility  to  slavery.  This  was 
indicated  by  its  eighth  plank,  which  reads  as  follows: 

"That  the  normal  condition  of  all  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  is  that  of  freedom :  that,  as  our  republican  fathers,  when 
they  had  abolished  slavery  in  all  our  national  territory,  ordained 
that  'no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty,  or  property 
without  due  process  of  law,'  it  becomes  our  duty  by  legislation, 
whenever  such  legislation  is  necessary,  to  maintain  this  provision 
of  the  Constitution  against  all  attempts  to  violate  it;  and  we 
deny  the  authority  of  Congress,  of  a  territorial  legislature,  or  of 
any  individuals,  to  give  legal  existence  to  slavery  in  any  terri- 
tory of  the  United  States." 

From  this  it  was  clear  that  the  Republicans  held  that  a  terri- 
tory could  not  establish  African  slavery  in  its  borders,  even  if  a 
majority  of  the  people  desired  it. 

This  was  a  declaration  that  the  differences  between  the  North 
and  the  South  were  irreconcilable. 

*4Mr.  Lincoln  was  comparatively  an  obscure  man  in  I860 — too  ob- 
scure to  be  asked  to  sign  an  indorsement  of  Helper's  Impending  Crisis,  a 
book  which  advised  the  immediate  and  total  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
South  by  revolutionary  measures.  By  signing  a  written  recommenda- 
tion of  this  incendiary  b<x>k  as  a  Republican  campaign  document  Mr. 
Seward  probably  lost  the  Republican  nomination  for  president. — ED. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  299 


It  is  true  that  another  plank  of  the  platform  went  on  to 
"denounce  the  lawless  invasion  by  armed  force  of  the  soil  of  any 
State  or  territory,  no  matter  under  what  pretext,  as  among  the 
gravest  of  crimes," — but  it  was  well  known  that  the  supporters 
of  this  resolution  sympathized  with  John  Brown  in  his  raid  on 
Harper's  Ferry,  and  that  therefore  the  declaration  was  insincere 
and  intended  to  deceive.  It  was  undeniable  that  John  Brown 
had  a  large  following  in  the  North;  and  if  they  were  not  the 
supporters  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  of  whom  were  they  ?  Certainly  not  the 
Democrats.  It  was  believed,  and  reasonably  so,  that,  in  the 
event  of  Lincoln's  election,  these  John  Brownites  would  feel 
licensed  to  raid  at  will  on  the  Southern  States,  and  that  North- 
ern public  sentiment  would  sustain  them. 

I  returned  through  Washington  to  Virginia  and  rejoined  my 
wife  at  the  Blue  Sulphur  Springs,  where  we  remained  during  the 
summer.  It  was  not  till  October  that  we  found  ourselves,  much 
invigorated  in  health  and  strength,  again  at  the  old  homestead  on 
Sims'  Bayou,  but  not  in  quiet  and  happiness,  for  men  have 
seldom  lived  in  more  portentous  times. 

Judge  J.  H.  Eeagan,  in  a  letter  to  Geo.  W.  Paschal,  dated 
Palestine,  October  39,  1860,  said,  among  other  things: 

"The  plan  of  action  that  I  would  recommend  to  meet  such  an 
emergency  is  this:  That  if  Lincoln  should  be  elected,  as  soon 
as  that  fact  shall  be  ascertained,  for  the  Governors  of  all  the 
slave-holding  States  to  convene  all  the  Legislatures  at  once,  for 
the  purpose  of  enabling  them  by  law  to  provide  for  State  con- 
ventions. And  that  said  State  conventions  should  provide  for  a 
general  convention  of  delegates  from  all  the  States  aggrieved. 
And  this  general  convention  should  present  to  the  free  States 
propositions  requiring  a  renewal  of  the  original  guaranties  of 
the  Constitution  in  favor  of  our  rights,  in  such  specific  form  as 
to  settle  forever  the  question  as  to  the  extent  and  character  of  the 
rights  of  the  slave  States  and  of  the  owners  of  slave  property." 

Hon.  Guy  M.  Bryan  said,  in  part :  "I  do  not  hesitate  to  say 
that,  if  Lincoln  should  be  inaugurated  without  new  and  effi- 
cient guaranties  being  given  by  the  Northern  to  the  Southern 
States,  in  my  opinion  Texas  could  not  within  honor  remain  in 
the  Union.  She  could  not  remain  there  in  safety." 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  by  the  votes  of  the  eighteen  free 


300  LUEB OCR'S  MEMOIRS. 


States.  In  the  electoral  college  Douglas  received  the  votes  of 
Missouri  and  part  of  New  Jersey,  twelve  in  all;  Bell  carried 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Virginia,  with  their  thirty-nine  votes ; 
while  Breckenridge  won  in  all  the  other  States,  receiving  their 
seventy-two  votes.  Lincoln  received  180  electoral  votes,  which, 
being  a  majority,  would  make  him  president. 

The  popular  vote  stood :  Lincoln,  1,857,610 ;  Douglas,  1,365,- 
976 ;  Breckenridge,  847,953 ;  Bell,  590,631  votes. 

The  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  as  President  was  accepted  by  the 
people  of  the  cotton  States  as  conclusive  evidence  of  the  settled 
purpose  of  the  Northern  people  to  overthrow  our  domestic  insti- 
tutions. Then  secession  began  in  order  to  save  the  imperiled 
domestic  tranquillity  of  these  States.  It  was  not  generally  be- 
lieved that  our  withdrawal  from  the  Union  would  be  forcibly 
resisted  by  the  Lincoln  government,  as  the  doctrines  of  secession 
and  nullification  were  both  of  Northern  origin.  Besides,  the 
analog}^  of  history  pointed  to  a  peaceful  separation;  for  the 
confederacies  of  Colombia  and  of  Central  America  had  dissolved 
without  bloodshed.  Surely  our  countrymen  were  more  civilized 
and  humane  than  the  Indo-Spaniards,  and  we  were  determined 
not  to  fight  unless  to  prevent  the  domestic  violence  consequent 
on  submission  to  Eepublican  rule. 

In  response  to  a  letter  from  Huntsville,  dated  November  14, 
I860,  signed  by  H.  M.  Watkins,  P.  W.  Kittrell,  Eobert  P.  Archer 
and  sixty-two  others,  asking  for  his  views  on  the  crisis,  Governor 
Houston  wrote:  "...  As  the  chief  executive  of  the  nation,  Mr. 
Lincoln  will  be  sworn  to  support  the  Constitution  and  execute 
the  laws.  His  oath  will  bring  him  in  conflict  with  the  unconsti- 
tutional statutes  enacted  by  his  party  in  many  of  the  States. 
.  .  .  Should  he  falter,  or  fail,  by  allowing  the  laws  to  be 
subverted,  and  in  oppressing  the  people  of  the  South,  he  must 
be  hurled  from  power.  ...  He  has  declared  the  fugitive 
slave  law  to  be  unconstitutional.  When  we  must  choose  between 
the  loss  of  our  constitutional  rights  and  revolution,  I  shall  take 
the  latter.  .  .  .  Mr.  Lincoln  has  been  constitutionally 
elected,  and,  much  as  I  Deprecate  his  success,  no  alternative  is 
left  me  but  to  yield  to  the  Constitution.  .  .  .  When  I  con- 
template the  horrors  of  civil  war,  such  as  a  dissolution  of  the 
Union  will  ultimately  force  upon  us,  I  can  not  believe  that  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  301 


people  will  rashly  take  a  step  fraught  with  these  consequences. 
.  .  .  Let  us  pause  and  ponder  well  before  we  take  any  action 
outside  of  the  Constitution." 

History  tells  us  how  much  Houston  was  opposed  to  secession 
in  1860.  His  judgment  then  was  all  against  it ;  but  he  had  not 
previously  done  much  to  educate  the  Texans  against  the  doctrine. 

It  was  well  known  how  he  had  stood  up  to  our  rights  as  a 
State  on  more  than  one  occasion  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  at  one  time,  when  Texas  was  more  especially  interested,  he 
made  a  very  plain  talk  about  our  getting  out  of  the  Union  and 
taking  care  of  ourselves  in  our  own  way.  I  give  an  extract  from 
his  speech  favoring  the  establishment  of  a  protectorate  by  the 
United  States  over  Mexico,  delivered  in  the  United  States  Sen- 
ate April  20,  1858 : 

"Whenever  one  section  of  the  country  presumes  upon  its 
strength  for  the  oppression  of  the  other,  then  will  our  Constitu- 
tion be  a  mockery,  and  it  would  matter  not  how  soon  it  was  sev- 
ered into  a  thousand  atoms  and  scattered  to  the  four  winds. 

"If  the  principles  are  disregarded  upon  which  the  annexation 
of  Texas  was  consummated,  there  will  be  for  her  neither  honor 
nor  interest  in  the  Union.  If  the  mighty,  in  the  face  of  written 
law,  can  place  with  impunity  an  iron  yoke  upon  the  neck  of  the 
weak,  Texas  will  be  at  no  loss  how>  to  act,  or  where  to  go,  before 
the  blow  aimed  at  her  vitals  is  inflicted.  In  a  spirit  of  good 
faith  she  entered  the  Federal  fold.  By  that  spirit  she  will  con- 
tinue to  be  influenced,  until  it  is  attempted  to  make  her  the  vic- 
tim of  Federal  wrong.  As  she  will  violate  no  Federal  rights,  so 
she  will  submit  to  no  violation  of  her  rights  by  Federal  authority. 
The  covenant  which  she  entered  into  with  the  government  must 
be  observed,  or  it  will  be  annulled.  Louisiana  was  a  purchase, 
California,  New  Mexico,  and  Utah  a  conquest ;  but  Texas  was  a 
voluntary  annexation.  If  the  condition  of  her  admission  is  not 
complied  with  on  the  one  part,  it  is  not  binding  on  the  other. 

"If  I  know  Texas,  she  will  not  submit  to  the  threatened  degra- 
dation foreshadowed  in  the  recent  speech  of  the  senator  from 
New  York  [Mr.  Seward].  She  would  prefer  restoration  to  that 
independence  which  she  once  enjoyed,  to  the  ignominy  ensuing 
from  sectional  dictation.  Sorrowing  for  the  mistake  which  she 
had  committed  in  sacrificing  her  independence  on  the  altar  of 


302  LU SHOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


her  patriotism,  she  would  unfurl  again  the  banner  of  the  Lone 
Star  to  the  breeze  and  re-enter  upon  a  national  career,  where,  if 
no  glory  awaited  her,  she  would  at  least  be  free  from  a  subju- 
gation by  might  to  wrong  and  shame." 

This  sounds  a  great  deal  like  one  of  WigfalPs  expositions  of 
the  Constitution.  More  than  two  years  had  elapsed  since  the 
delivery  of  that  speech,  and  Houston  now  shrank  back  from  his 
proposed  remedy  against  sectional  wrong.  In  his  opinion  at 
this  time,  no  oppression  of  any  character  would  justify  the  seces- 
sion of  Texas  from  the  Union. 

"David  G.  Burnet  counsels  submission  to  the  election  of  Lin- 
coln and  continuing  in  the  Union  till  the  last  moment,  hoping 
that  the  North  will  awaken  to  a  sense  of  justice,"  said  the  Texas 
Republican,  in  an  editorial  paragraph.  The  Republican  strongly 
advocated  secession. 

In  reply  to  a  circular  of  the  Telegraph,  asking  opinions  as 
to  the  proper  measures  to  meet  the  crisis  after  Lincoln's  election, 
I  said  in  part : 

"Those  who  advocate  waiting,  or  remaining  in  the  Union  until 
some  overt  act  is  committed  so  glaring  as  to  warm  up  those  whose 
blood  courses  at  present  so  slowly  through  their  veins,  will  find, 
when  that  time  arrives,  that  through  the  great  patronage  and 
insidious  workings  of  a  Black  Republican  administration,  there 
will  have  been  mustered  into  existence  in  our  own  midst  a  class 
of  seditious  men  of  sufficient  numbers  in  some  localities  of  the 
South  to  bring  on  civil  war  and  bloodshed  among  ourselves. 

"These  results  I  would  avoid,  and  I  believe  that  secession  is 
the  remedy. 

"From  conversation  had,  and  correspondence  with  many,  a8 
also  from  observation  during  my  recent  visit  to  some  twelve 
States  of  the  Union,  I  feel  assured  that  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
Florida,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Arkansas,  and  probably  other 
States,  will  take  immediate  action  should  our  country  be  cursed 
by  the  election  of  a  Black  Republican. 

"I  think  Texas  should  be  no  laggard.  She  has  as  much  at 
stake  as  any  of  her  sister  States." 

At  a  public  meeting  in  Marshall  it  was  resolved,  "that  the  elec- 
tion of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  presidency  of  the  United  States 
is  a  violation  of  the  spirit  of  the  Constitution,  and  should  be  re- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  303 


sisted  by  the  States."  The  Lone  Star  flag  was  hoisted,  and  W.  B. 
Ochiltree  spoke  in  its  behalf.  "The  crisis,"  said  he,  "is  upon  us 
and  must  be  squarely  met,  when  equality  of  rights  is  denied  to  my 
section,  and  let  us  quietly  but  determinedly  resolve  to  'take  up 
arms  against  a  sea  of  troubles,  and,  by  opposing,  end  them.' '' 

Hon.  J.  M.  Clough,  another  speaker  at  the  meeting,  delivered 
a  most  eloquent  address,  expressing  himself  in  favor  of  resistance 
to  the  election  of  Lincoln.  Hon.  Eli  H.  Baxter  followed  in  the 
same  strain.  Jas.  Turner,  a  fiery  orator,  advised  resistance  to 
Lincoln,  Hon.  Pendleton  Murrah  was  calmer,  but  firm  in  the 
conviction  that  the  crisis  had  come  and  the  Southern  people  had 
to  meet  it. 

The  meeting  finally  advised  the  calling  of  a  convention  to  de- 
termine the  status  of  Texas  as  to  the  Union;  but  recommended 
caution,  prudence,  and  calm  deliberation  in  our  future  conduct. 

Pendleton  Murrah  believed  that  the  State  ought  (after  declar- 
ing her  intentions  through  a  convention)  to  seek  conferences 
with  the  other  Southern  States,  and  omit  no  effort  to  secure 
united  action  among  them.  "It  might  be,"  said  he,  "that  united 
action  among  the  Southern  States  would  secure  from  the  North- 
ern States  no  satisfactory  guarantees  for  the  future.  .  .  . 
If  these  [efforts]  all  fail,  it  will  be  admitted  that  the  last  battle, 
on  the  last  inch  of  territory,  has  been  fought  for  the  rights  and 
equality  of  the  Southern  States  in  the  Union;  and  that  the 
gloomy  alternative  is  distinctively  presented  them  of  submitting 
to  Black  Kepublican  rule,  a  slow  but  certain  death,  or  of  reject- 
ing that  rule  as  she  [Texas]  would  reject  a  deadly  poison." 

E.  Greer  advised  action  with  a  view  to  secession,  saying :  "A 
more  consummate  piece  of  folly  could  not  be  committed  than  to 
wait  for  the  North  to  inaugurate  her  withering,  dishonoring, 
and  diabolical  policy.  The  overt  act  has  been  committed  [in  Lin- 
coln's election].  Let  the  South  speak  out,  or  forever  hold  her 
peace."  In  anticipation  of  the  secession  of  South  Carolina,  he 
tendered  Governor  Pickens,  of  that  State,  the  services  of  a 
mounted  regiment  of  Texas  volunteers. 

Alluding  to  efforts  being  made  to  amicably  adjust  sectional 
differences,  Mr.  Wigfall  wrote  from  his  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate  to  a  friend,  under  date  of  December  7,  1860 :  "The  propo- 
sition to  settle  the  question  by  further  amendments  amounts  to 


304  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


nothing  and  is  intended  to  produce  division  among  us.  The 
North  will  not  yield  an  inch.  They  will  not  give  us  what  we  are 
now  entitled  to ;  they  will  not  agree  to  leave  us  what  we  have." 

South  Carolina,  ray  native  State,  was  the  first  to  secede,  and 
was  soon  followed  by  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  Florida,  and 
Louisiana. 

Commissioners  from  these  sovereign  bodies  politic  met  at 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  entered  provisionally  into  a  new  compact, 
the  new,  and,  it  was  hoped,  better  union  to  be  known  as  the  Con- 
federate States  of  North  America.  The  people  of  Texas  were 
allied  to  those  of  the  seceding  States  by  the  ties  of  blood,  con- 
sanguinity, common  interests,  and  common  institutions,  and 
when  South  Carolina  declared  herself  out  of  the  Union  the  news 
was  received  in  Texas  as  a  final  announcement  that  the  time  for 
separation  from  the  Northern  States  had  arrived,  and  aroused  a 
wave  of  enthusiasm  that  rolled  from  the  Sabine  to  the  Rio 
Grande  and  from  the  Indian  Territory  to  the  Gulf. 

Governor  Houston,  strongly  in  favor  of  prolonging  our  stay  in 
the  Federal  Union,  refused  to  call  an  extra  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature until  compelled  to  do  so  by  the  overwhelming  pressure  of 
public  opinion. 

A  still  higher  body  than  the  Legislature,  restricted  as  it  was 
by  constitutional  limitations,  was  needed  to  determine  and  carry 
out  the  will  of  the  people,  and  a  convention  with  plenary  powers 
was  therefore  called  by  Judge  0.  M.  Roberts  and  other  leading 
men  to  assemble  at  the  capital  and  take  whatever  action  might 
be  decided  upon  as  needful  in  the  impending  crisis. 

The  Legislature  convened  at  Austin,  January  21,  1861,  in 
obedience  to  Houston's  call,  and  he  sent  in  to  the  two  houses  a 
message  in  which  he  said  that  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  de- 
plorable as  it  was,  did  not  warrant  the  secession  of  Texas  from 
the  Union.  As  well  as  can  be  determined  from  this  document, 
he  favored  the  calling  of  a  convention  of  delegates  from  the 
slave  holding  States  to  discuss  the  situation  and  devise  such 
means  and  take  such  action  as  might  be  found  necessary  to  the 
protection  of  the  rights  of  those  States  in  the  Union. 

The  message  was  respectfully  received,  read,  commented  upon 
pro  and  con,  and  filed  away  amid  the  archives  of  that  generation, 
now  long  since  passed  away.  Its  suggestions  were  impracticable. 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  305 


The  stormy  current  of  events  had  swept  far  past  the  point  where 
it  could  have  commanded  serious  consideration.  The  sole  inter- 
est that  now  attaches  to  it  is  as  the  last  utterance  of  Houston  in 
favor  of  the  Union. 

The  convention  met  January  28,  1861,  and  perfected  organ- 
ization by  electing  Justice  Oran  M.  Koberts  president  and  E.  T. 
Brownrigg  secretary.  The  sessions  of  the  body  were  attended 
by  the  Governor,  members  of  the  Legislature,  Justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  heads  of  State  departments,  and  distinguished 
personages  from  all  parts  of  Texas. 

After  several  days  spent  in  debate,  the  secession  ordinance  was 
reported  and  adopted  February  1st,  by  a  vote  of  167  ayes  to  7 
nays. 

The  negative  votes  were  cast  by  Thos.  P.  Hughes,  of  William- 
son; Wm.  H.  Johnson,  of  Lamar;  Joshua  Johnson,  of  Titus; 
A.  P.  Shuf ord,  of  Wood ;  Jas.  W.  Throckmorton,  of  Collin ;  Lem 
Williams,  of  Lamar,  and  Geo.  W.  Wright,  of  Lamar.  The  ablest 
of  these  was  Mr.  Throckmorton,  who,  in  later  and  darker  days, 
rendered  patriotic  services  and  greatly  endeared  himself  to  the 
people  of  Texas. 

In  the  preamble  of  the  ordinance  to  dissolve  Texas'  connection 
with  the  Union,  it  was  claimed  that  the  Federal  government  had 
failed  to  accomplish  the  purposes  of  the  compact  of  Union  be- 
tween the  States,  not  having  given  protection  either  to  the  per- 
sons of  our  people  upon  an  exposed  frontier  or  to  the  property 
of  our  citizens,  and  that  the  attitude  assumed  by  the  Northern 
States,  in  the  light  of  recent  developments,  made  it  evident  that 
the  power  of  the  Federal  government  would  be  made  a  weapon 
with  which  to  strike  down  the  interests  and  prosperity  of  the 
people  of  Texas. 

As  an  original  question,  secession,  perhaps,  would  have  failed 
to  carry  in  Texas ;  but,  the  six  leading  cotton  States  having  al- 
ready resorted  to  an  exercise  of  the  right,  banded  themselves  to- 
gether in  a  new  confederation,  and  formed  a  new  government, 
Texas  was  apparently  confronted  with  the  alternatives  of  becom- 
ing a  party  to  the  new  compact,  remaining  in  the  Union,  or  re- 
suming her  sovereignty  as  a  separate  republic.  Had  she  desired 
to  desert  her  sister  States  of  the  South  in  this  hour  of  need  and 
peril  (which  she  did  not)  and  resume  her  former  station  as  a 
20 


306  LUBBOCJCS  MEMOIRS. 


republic,  it  was  realized  that  she  could  not  preserve  a  neutral 
attitude  and  maintain  herself  in  that  condition.  The  idea  of  re- 
maining in  the  Union,  and  thereby  arraying  herself  with  the 
avowed  enemies  of  the  South,  was  not  to  be  thought  of.  The 
course  that  was  adopted  was  the  only  one  that  was  open  to  her. 

Nor  was  she  withheld  from  it  by  sentimental  considerations. 
The  Northern  States  generally  sympathized  with  our  Mexican 
enemies  in  our  struggle  for  independence  and  opposed  our  ad- 
mission into  the  Union,  Massachusetts  going  so  far  (by  legis- 
lative resolution)  as  to  declare  the  annexation  of  Texas,  ipso 
facto,  a  dissolution  of  the  Union.  Our  people  really  preferred 
to  fight  Massachusetts  rather  than  Louisiana,  if  fighting  should 
become  necessary. 

While  she  might  have  cheerfully  taken  part  in  further  efforts 
to  preserve  the  Union,  if  her  sister  States  of  the  South  had  co- 
operated therein,  and  while  she  might  have  preferred  such  action, 
yet,  when  they  put  fortune  to  the  hazard  by  separation,  and  she 
had  to  go  with  them  or  their  enemies,  she  turned  to  them  as 
naturally,  promptly,  and  unalterably  as  the  needle  to  the  pole. 

John  H.  Brown,  of  Bell;  Pryor  Lea,  of  Goliad;  Malcolm  D. 
Graham,  of  Rusk ;  George  Flournoy,  of  Travis,  and  A.  P.  Wiley, 
having  been  appointed  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  prepared 
a  declaration  setting  forth  the  causes  that  impelled  the  State  of 
Texas  to  secede.  This  was  reported  to  and  adopted  by  the  con- 
vention, February  2d. 

"The  States  of  Maine,"  says  the  declaration,  "Vermont,  New 
Hampshire,  Connecticut,  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  and  Iowa,  by 
solemn  legislative  enactments,  have  deliberately,  directly  or  in- 
directly, violated  the  third  clause  of  the  second  section  of  the 
fourth  article  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  laws  passed  in 
pursuance  thereof,  thereby  annnling  a  material  provision  of  the 
compact,  designed  by  its  framers  to  perpetuate  amity  between 
the  members  of  the  confederacy  and  to  secure  the  right  of  the 
slave  holding  States  in  their  domestic  institutions, — a  provision 
founded  in  justice  and  wisdom,  and  without  the  enforcement  of 
which  the  compact  fails  to  accomplish  the  object  of  its  creation. 
Some  of  these  States  have  imposed  high  fines  and  degrading 
penalties  upon  any  of  their  citizens,  or  any  of  their  officers,  who 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  307 


may  carry  into  effect  in  good  faith  that  provision  of  the  com- 
pact, or  the  Federal  laws  enacted  in  accordance  therewith. 

"  'Nullification  Laws/ — Under  this  head  the  Ledger  of  Tues- 
day cites  the  acts  passed  by  thirteen  of  the  Northern  States,  in 
contravention  of  the  fugitive  slave  law  and  of  that  section  of  the 
Constitution  which  requires  their  rendition  to  their  owners. 
The  States  whose  legislative  acts  are  thus  cited  are :  Maine,  New 
Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Ehode 
Island,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Illinois,  In- 
diana, Iowa,  and  Wisconsin.  .  .  . 

"  'The  Fugitive  Slave  Law.' — They  have  proclaimed,  and  at 
the  ballot  box  sustained,  the  revolutionary  doctrine  that  there  is  a 
'higher  law'  than  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  our  Federal 
Union,  and,  virtually,  that  they  will  disregard  their  oaths  and 
trample  upon  our  rights.  They  have  for  years  past  encouraged 
and  sustained  lawless  organizations  to  steal  our  slaves  and  pre- 
vent their  recapture,  and  have  repeatedly  murdered  Southern 
citizens  while  lawfully  seeking  their  rendition.  They  have  in- 
vaded Southern  soil  and  murdered  unoffending  citizens,  and 
through  the  press,  their  leading  men,  and  a  fanatical  pulpit, 
have  bestowed  praises  upon  the  actors  and  assassins  in  these 
crimes,  while  the  Governors  of  several  of  these  States  have  re- 
fused to  deliver  parties,  implicated  and  indicted  for  participa- 
tion in  such  offenses,  upon  the  legal  demands  of  the  States  ag- 
grieved." 

As  shown  by  the  above,  the  chief  wrongs  complained  of  were 
the  action  of  the  States  nullif}dng  the  fugitive  slave  law,  the 
doctrine  of  "higher  lawism,"  and  the  general  approval  in  the 
North  of  the  John  Brown  raid.  We  thought  once  that  slave- 
holders had  some  rights  in  the  territories,  but  the  idea  was 
scouted  now  in  the  North.  The  struggle  had  narrowed  down, 
with  the  slave  States,  to  one  for  existence. 

The  following  were  chosen  as  the  representatives  of  Texas  in 
the  Congress  of  the  seceding  States  at  Montgomery :  Our  former 
United  States  Senators,  John  Hemphill  and  Louis  T.  Wigfall; 
John  Gregg,  Wm.  B.  Ochiltree,  W.  S.  Oldham,  John  A.  Wil- 
cox,  and  F.  B.  Sexton,  and  they  set  out  at  once  for  the  Confeder- 
ate capital. 

The  convention  submitted  the  question  of  secession  to  a  popu- 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


lar  vote,  and  after  appointing  a  committee  of  public  safety  and 
investing  it  with  plenary  powers  to  act  in  the  interim,  the  con- 
vention adjourned  February  4th' to  reassemble  on  the  2d  day  of 
March,  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  natal  day  of  Texan 
independence. 

Houston  issued  an  address  to  the  people  in  which  he  said :  "I 
protest,  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  Texas,  against  all  the  acts 
and  doings  of  the  convention,  and  declare  them  null  and  void." 

The  committee  of  public  safety  consisted  of  the  following  gen- 
tlemen:35 Judge  Jno.  C.  Robertson,  of  Smith,  chairman;  Jas. 
Eodgers,  of  Marion;  A.  T.  Rainey,  of  Anderson;  J.  E.  Arm- 
strong, of  Rusk;  W.  P.  Rogers,  of  Harris;  J.  M.  Norris,  of 
Coryell;  T.  J.  Devine,  of  Bexar;  W.  Miller,  of  Bastrop;  J.  J. 
Diamond,  of  Cooke ;  C.  L.  Cleveland,  of  Liberty ;  P.  N".  Luckett, 
of  Nueces;  Jno.  A.  Green,  of  Travis;  Jno.  Henry  Brown,  of 
Bell;  J.  G.  Thompson,  of  Fannin;  Jas.  Hooper,  of  Hunt;  F.  W. 

86  Judge  John  C.  Robertson  was  a  native  of  Georgia,  but  was  raised 
on  his  father's  plantation  in  Chambers  County,  Alabama.  He  received 
a  liberal  education  and  graduated  in  the  law  department  of  Cambridge 
University  at  the  time  Judges  Story  and  Greenleaf  were  professors  of 
law  in  that  institution.  He  moved  to  Texas  in  the  early  part  of  1852, 
and  practiced  law  in  Henderson  for  a  short  while  in  partnership  with 
the  late  Wm.  Stedman.  He  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  Secession 
Convention  of  1860.  He  afterwards  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  army, 
and  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel  of  Col.  A.  W.  Terrell's  regiment  of 
cavalry.  He  served  through  the  war  and  was  in  all  of  the  battles  of 
the  Louisiana  campaign.  He  returned  home  after  the  war  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  law,  associating  with  him  Hon.  W.  S.  Herndon,  who 
was  then  rapidly  rising  in  his  profession.  They  established  a  large  and 
extensive  practice  at  Tyler,  during  which,  time  they  had  associated 
with  them  Judge  Sawnie  Robertson,  Judge  Robertson's  oldest  son,  who 
afterwards  became  a  judge  of  the  Texas  Supreme  Court.  In  1878  Judge 
Robertson  was  elected  district  judge  of  the  old  Tyler  district,  succeed- 
ing Judge  M.  H.  Bonner,  who  was  elevated  to  the  Supreme  Court.  He 
was  again  re-elected  in  1880  for  the  full  term  of  four  years,  and  be- 
fore its  expiration  he  decided  to  retire  to  private  life,  but  returned  to 
the  practice  for  a  short  time  afterwards,  being  associated  with  Judge 
John  M.  Duncan,  of  Tyler.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Tyler  in  August,, 
1895,  in  the  71st  year  of  his  age. 

Judge  Terrell,  while  highly  esteeming  Judge  Robertson  as  a  man, 
also  greatly  respected  him  for  his  civic  and  military  abilities.  The  ed- 
itor long  enjoyed  the  intimate  acquaintance  of  Judge  Robertson,  and  he 
mourned  his  death  as  that  of  a  very  dear  friend. — ED. 


LUBBOCK '  S   MEMOIRS.  309 


Latham,  of  Cameron ;  Chas.  Ganahl,  of  Kerr ;  John  S.  Ford,  of 
Cameron;  and  my  brother,  Thos.  S.  Lubbock,  of  Harris. 

The  delicate  task  of  ridding  Texas  of  the  United  States  troops 
in  her  borders  and  providing  for  the  safety  of  our  frontier  was 
assigned  to  them.  A  sub-committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Maver- 
ick, Devine,  and  Luckett,  induced  Gen.  Twiggs,  department  com- 
mander at  San  Antonio  (by  negotiation,  and  the  display  of  force 
under  Ben  McCulloch),  to  surrender  the  United  States  govern- 
ment property  and  to  agree  to  withdraw  all  the  United  States 
troops,  numbering  about  2600,  from  the  State.  This  bloodless 
achievement  reflected  great  credit  on  the  whole  committee  and 
their  able  but  prudent  chairman,  Judge  Eobertson.  These 
United  States  troops  began  to  rendezvous  at  Green  Lake,  pre- 
paratory to  embarking  for  New  York,  but  the  war  coming  on, 
they  were  all  captured  by  the  force  under  Maj.  Earl  Van  Dora, 
and  paroled  before  being  permitted  to  leave  Texas. 

During  the  recess  of  the  convention  a  part  of  the  committee 
of  public  safety  held  a  session  at  Galveston  and  dispatched  an 
expedition  of  four  hundred  men,  under  Colonel  Ford,  with  two 

commissioners,  E.  B.  Nichols  and  Wetter,  to  the  Rio 

Grande.  En  route,  Ford  captured  Brazos  Santiago  and  a 
small  Federal  garrison  at  Brownsville,  and  United  States  author- 
ity ceased  on  the  lower  Mexican  border.  A  month  or  so  after 
this  Colonel  Ford  campaigned  in  this  section  with  a  part  of  the 
regiment  given  him  by  the  convention,  while  the  other  part,  un- 
der his  lieutenant-colonel,  John  P.  Baylor,  occupied  El  Paso. 

The  convention  provided  that  this  regiment  of  mounted  vol- 
unteers should  continue  under  State  control  till  received  into  the 
Confederate  service.  Edwin  Waller  was  Ford's  major. 

The  popular  vote  stood  39,415  for  and  13,841  against  the  or- 
dinance of  secession. 

The  secession  convention  reassembled  March  2,  canvassed  the 
returns,  and  announced  the  result,  and  on  the  4th  passed  an 
ordinance  uniting  Texas  with  the  Confederate  States  of  Amer- 
ica; and  further  ordained,  that  the  delegation  theretofore  ap- 
pointed to  the  Congress  of  the  Confederate  States  be  authorized 
to  act  in  said  Congress  as  the  duly  accredited  representatives 
of  Texas.  But  the  permanent  Constitution  adopted  by  the  Con- 


810  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


gress  was  not  to  become  obligatory  upon  Texas  until  approved 
in  some  satisfactory  way. 

A  copy  of  the  permanent  Constitution  of  the  Confederate 
States  having  been  forwarded  to  Austin  by  our  delegate  at  Mont- 
gomery, the  convention,  after  due  consideration,  proceeded  to 
adopt  it  by  a  vote  of  128  in  favor  of  to  2  against  it.  As  all  the 
good  features  of  the  old  United  States  Constitution  were  re- 
tained in  the  new  Confederate  Constitution,  with  some  addi- 
tional guaranties  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  it  was  not  deemed 
advisable  to  defer  its  adoption  by  referring  it  to  the  popular  vote. 
The  unionists  raised  an  additional  howl  at  this,  seeming  to  for- 
get, or  rather  to  be  ignorant  of  the  fact,  that  the  United  States 
Constitution  was  adopted  by  conventions  in  the  original  States. 
If  the  people  ever  voted  on  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  I 
have  been  misinformed. 

Texas  having  now  become  a  member  of  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy by  deliberate  act  of  her  people,  the  convention  passed  an 
ordinance  requiring  all  State  officers  to  subscribe  to  an  oath  to 
support  the  Confederate  Constitution,  fixing  March  16th  as  the 
time  for  the  observance  of  that  ceremony.  On  the  day  and  at 
the  hour  (12  m.)  appointed,  all  of  the  State  officials  took  the 
oath  with  the  exception  of  Governor  Houston,  Secretary  of  State 
E.  W.  Cave,  and  Attorney-General  A.  B.  Norton,  who  failed  to 
appear. 

The  convention  thereupon  declared  the  offices  vacant,  and  on 
the  18th  Lieutenant-Governor  Edward  Clark  formally  entered 
upon  his  duties  as  Governor  of  Texas. 

The  convention  having  completed  its  labors  adjourned  sine  die 
on  the  2fith  of  March. 

The  secession  convention  was  undoubtedly  composed  of  the 
leading  men  of  Texas.  A  partial  list  of  the  names  of  the  mem- 
bers will  verify  this  assertion :  Edwin  Waller,  Amzi  Bradshaw, 
Jno.  Henry  Brown,  Thos.  J.  Chambers,  Thos.  S.  Lubbock,  Jas. 
M.  Maxoy,  Goo.  W.  Chilton,  Chas.  L.  Cleveland,  Richard  Coke, 
John  W.  Dancy,  Thos.  J.  Devine,  George  Flournoy,  Spencer 
Ford,  John  S.  Ford,  Chas.  Stewart,  F.  S.  Stockdale,  B.  F.  Terry, 
Nathaniel  Terry,  J.  W.  Hutcheson,  John  Ireland,  Thos.  J.  Jen- 
nings, Malcolm  1).  Graham,  Peter  W.  Gray,  John  A.  Green,  Phil. 
T.  Herbert,  A.  W.  0.  Hicks,  A.  M.  Hobby,  E.  B.  Nichols,  James 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  311 


W.  Norris,  A.  T.  Obenchain,  W.  B.  Ochiltree,  W.  S.  Oldham,  A. 
T.  Rainey,  John  H.  Reagan,  E.  S.  C.  Robertson,  John  C.  Rob- 
ertson, Eobt.  S.  Gould,  Wm.  P.  Rogers,  John  Hugely,  H.  R. 
Runnels,  Pryor  Lea,  John  A.  Wilcox,  A.  P.  Wiley,  Allison  Nel- 
son, John  Gregg,  Wm.  P.  Hardeman,  Jerome  B.  Robertson,  Wm. 
R.  Scurry,  John  A.  Wharton,  and  Joseph  L.  Hogg.  The  last 
seven  named  became  generals  in  the  Confederate  army.  In  the 
list  are  also  found  the  names  of  one  ex- Governor  and  two  future 
Governors,  with  a  brilliant  array  of  names  distinguished  in  all 
the  walks  of  life,  civil  and  military. 

While  these  exciting  events  were  transpiring  in  Texas  I  re- 
mained quietly  on  my  ranch,  but  taking  a  deep  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  Like  secessionists  generally,  I  deprecated  war;  but 
could  now  see  but  little  hope  of  averting  it,  except  by  submission 
to  abolition  rule. 

There  were  some,  however,  who  believed,  or  rather  hoped,  that 
steps  could  be  devised  that  would  result  in  the  preservation  of 
the  Union. 

A  congressional  committee,  composed  of  Republicans  and 
Democrats,  was  appointed  with  this  end  in  view,  but  accom- 
plished nothing,  as  the  Republican  members  jeeringly  and  in- 
sultingly rejected  every  proposition  submitted  and  refused  to 
submit  any  in  turn. 

The  Peace  Congress  at  Washington  (presided  over  by  ex- Presi- 
dent Tyler)  also  failed  to  effect  an  adjustment  of  the  differences 
— which  is  not  surprising,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  it  was  boldly 
avowed  on  the  part  of  the  North  there  would  be  no  more  slave 
States  or  rendition  of  fugitive  slaves.36 

All  that  now  remained  to  be  done  was  to  effect  an  agreement 
between  the  States  remaining  in  the  Union  and  those  retiring 
from  it,  for  an  equitable  apportionment  of  the  public  debt  and 
division  of  public  property. 

The  Confederate  authorities  at  Montgomery  sent  commission- 
ers to  Washington  for  this  purpose ;  but,  confident  of  success  in 
a  physical  struggle,  the  Federal  government  rejected  the  peace- 
ful solution  proffered  by  the  Confederates  and  began  active  prep- 

89  The  Yankee  abolitionists  appear  never  to  have  been  honest  enough 
to  contemplate  emancipation  accompanied  by  compensation  to  the  own- 
ers of  the  slaves,  the  policy  pursued  by  the  British  in  the  West  Indies. 


312  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


arations  for  war.  It  was  only  a  question  of  time  when  a  collision 
would  occur.  The  occasion  soon  arose  on  the  attempted  rein- 
forcement of  Fort  Sumter,  in  Charleston  harbor,  which  the 
United  States  government  refused  to  give  up  on  the  secession  of 
South  Carolina.  On  learning  that  a  Federal  fleet  with  2500 
men  on  board  had  sailed  from  New  York  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
inforcing the  garrison  at  Sumter,  the  Confederates  opened  fire 
on  the  fort  and  compelled  its  surrender.  Thus,  by  no  act  of 
our  own,  the  war  was  forced  upon  us.  If  an  enemy  advances 
upon  you  in  a  threatening  manner  with  a  drawn  dagger,  you 
may  shoot  him  down  with  your  pistol  before  he  gets  close  enough 
to  strike  you ;  and  the  firing  of  your  pistol  would  not  be  the  be- 
ginning of  the  fight  and  you  would  not  be  the  aggressor.  So  it 
seemed  to  me  then,  and  so  it  seems  now. 

The  fall  of  Sumter37  was  followed  by  a  call  from  President 
Lincoln  for  75,000  troops  to  suppress  what  he  called  the  insur- 
rection in  a  certain  district.  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Tennes- 
see, and  Arkansas  immediately  withdrew  from  the  Union  and 
linked  their  fortunes  with  those  of  the  other  Southern  States. 
We  had  now  eleven  States  and  a  white  population  of  about 
5,500,000.  Still,  the  odds  against  us  were  immense, — a  popula- 
tion of  22,000,000,  a  regular  army  and  navy,38  and  the  prestige 
of  an  established  government.  It  is  no  wonder  that  Secretary 
Seward  boasted  that  the  Confederacy  would  be  knocked  to  pieces 
in  less  than  ninety  days. 

The  most  serious  aspect  of  the  situation  was  the  unbroken 
front  of  the  North,  that  had  apparently  risen  as  one  man  against 
us.  We  had  never  calculated  on  having  to  fight  a  united  North. 
Our  Democratic  friends  had  assured  us  that  they  would  stand 

87  The  first  gun  of  the  civil  war  was  fired  in  1859  by  John  Brown 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  Old  Glory,  then  detested  by  Northern  fanatics, 
was  hauled  down  from  the  United  States  fort  and  trampled  upon  with- 
out ceremony.  Northern  governors  refused  to  extradite  those  of  Brown's 
outlaws  who  escaped  to  their  States. 

Such  an  outrage  as  the  Harper's  Ferry  affair  would  undoubtedly  be 
cams  belli  between  independent  powers.  The  Constitution  had  failed 
to  give  "domestic  tranquillity"  to  the  States  in  the  Union.— ED. 

18  The  complaints  of  Yankee  writers  about  their  unpreparedness  for 
war  appear  childish  when  it  is  considered  that  the  Confederates  did  not 
have  a  single  ship  or  regular  soldier  in  the  winter  of  1860-61. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  313 


in  the  breach  and  give  the  Republicans  enough  to  attend  to  at 
home.  Instead  of  that,  however,  a  majority  of  them  (the  war 
Democrats),  under  Mr.  Douglas,  went  over  boot  and  baggage 
to  the  enemy.  This  unexpected  treachery  of  the  war  Democracy 
in  the  North  revealed  to  us  the  magnitude  of  the  struggle  await- 
ing us. 

I  never  took  any  stock  in  the  rumors  of  foreign  intervention, 
and  I  always  held  that  our  independence  must  be  won  by  force  of 
our  unaided  arms.  Our  foreign  allies  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
it  is  true,  decided  the  contest  in  our  favor;  but  circumstances 
were  different  with  us.  Our  peculiar  institution  was  opposed  by 
the  civilized  world,  and  there  was  but  little  reason  to  expect  help 
from  Europe. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  we  were  in  the  war  and  now  had  to  fight  it 
out,  and  like  true  Americans  the  Confederates  rushed  to  the 
fray  without  counting  the  odds. 


314  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTEE  EIGHTEEN. 

Union  Element  in  Texas— Frank  Terry,  Tom  Lubbock,  and  Tom  Goree 
at  the  Front — Compliments  for  Gallantry  at  Manassas — Military  Ope- 
rations in  the  State — Shelling  at  Galveston  —  Protest  of  Foreign  Con- 
suls to  Captain  Alden — My  Candidacy  for  Governor  —  Dallas  Conven- 
tion— Terry  Rangers — Trip  to  Richmond  and  First  Impressions  of 
President  Davis— On  My  Way  Home  I  Saw  Tom  for  the  Last  Time. 

A  small  but  able  faction  in  Texas,  whose  acknowledged  leaders 
were  the  Hancocks  (John  and  George),  E.  J.  Davis,  A.  J.  Ham- 
ilton, Geo.  W.  Paschal,  E.  M.  Pease,  A.  B.  Norton,  and  Swante 
Palm,  continued  steadfast  to  the  Union  during  the  entire  war. 
Outside  of  this,  the  white  population  of  Texas  supported  the 
Confederacy  with  practical  unanimity. 

Immediately  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Secession  Conven- 
tion Tom  S.  Lubbock  and  Geo.  Goldthwaite  journeyed  post  haste 
to  the  then  Confederate  capital  at  Montgomery  and  solicited 
commissions  to  raise  troops  for  the  Confederate  service;38  but 
their  request  was  not  granted,  the  Secretary  of  War  stating  that 
it  would,  in  his  opinion,  be  unnecessary  to  organize  troops  in  a 
State  so  distant  as  Texas,  that  the  cost  of  transportation  would 
be  too  great,  that  enough  men  could  be  enlisted  nearer  the  scene 
of  actual  conflict,  and  that  the  war  would  be  of  short  duration. 
Tom  combatted  these  opinions  with  all  the  eloquence  and  logic 
that  he  could  command,  but  in  vain.  Somewhat  chagrined  and 
indignant,  he  returned  to  Texas.  After  remaining  at  home  a  few 
days  he  determined  to  go  to  Virginia  on  the  front  line,  nearest 
the  enemy.  "I  was  a  member  of  the  convention,"  said  he,  "and 
advocated  secession,  and  I  will  be  in  the  first  battle  for  the  main- 
tenance of  the  Confederate  government." 

'•A  Houston  Telegraph  correspondent,  under  date  of  May  15th,  thus 
writes  of  the  Texans  then  at  Montgomery: 

"Among  distinguished  citizens  of  Texas  now  in  this  city  are  Hon. 
Thos.  S.  Lubbock  and  George  Goldthwaite,  Esq.,  of  your  city.  The 
former  gentleman  is  without  doubt  concocting  some  scheme  to  the  det- 
riment of  'Old  Abe's'  peace,  and  that  of  Yankeedom  in  general,  and, 
from  his  well  known  character,  we  feel  assured  that  anything  he  may 
attempt  will  be  carried  out  successfully.  ..." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  315 


Frank  Terry  was  a  member  of  the  Convention,  and,  like  Tom, 
a  fiery  secessionist.  Together  with  Tom  Goree,  they  left  Hous- 
ton for  Virginia  early  in  June.30 

Keaching  Virginia  in  July,  they  pushed  on  to  the  Confederate 
army  near  Manassas,  sought  out  General  Longstreet,  and  re- 
quested to  be  assigned  to  duty.  They  were  well  received  by  the 
General,  who  at  once  assigned  Goree  to  staff  duty  with  himself. 
This  position  he  held  until  the  surrender,  retaining  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  chief  during  the  entire  war;  Terry 
and  Lubbock  were  assigned  by  General  Longstreet  to  very  im- 
portant scouting  duty,  and  all  three  had  the  honor  of  par- 
ticipating in  the  battle  of  Manassas,  the  first  great  battle  of 
the  war,  and  rendered  valuable  service,  winning  the  following 
favorable  mention  from  General  Longstreet  in  his  official  report 
of  the  engagement :  "About  an  hour  after  my  position  was 
taken,  it  was  discovered  by  a  reconnoissance,  made  by  Colonels 
Terry  and  Lubbock,  that  the  enemy  were  moving  in  heavy  col- 
umns towards  our  left.  .  .  .  This  information  was  at  once 
sent  to  headquarters.  .  .  .  Colonels  Terry  and  Lubbock  then 
volunteered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  of  the  position  of  the  ene- 
my's batteries.  They  made  a  very  gallant  and  complete  one  and 
a  hasty  sketch  of  his  entire  left.  This  information  was  for- 
warded to  the  commanding  general  with  the  suggestion  that  the 
batteries  be  taken.  The  general  orders  were  promptly  issued  to 
that  effect.  .  .  .  Early  next  day  I  sent  Colonel  Terry  for- 
ward, under  the  protection  of  Captain  Whitehead's  troop,  to  pick 
up  stragglers,  army  stores,  and  other  property  that  had  been 

89  The  Houston  Telegraph  of  May  31  said  editorially: 
"Capt.  T.  S.  Lubbock's  guerrillas  will  leave  Houston  on  or  about  the 
5th  of  June  to  participate  in  the  war.  They  are  made  up  of  men  ex- 
pecting to  pay  their  own  way.  Every  man  will  furnish  his  own  horse 
and  saddle  and  take  with  him  $250  in  money.  About  fifty  men  are  now 
ready.  Daring  enterprise  and  bold  strokes  are  in  reserve  for  this  com- 
pany." 

June  15th  a  guerrilla  writes  from  Brashear  City,  La.:  "The  guer- 
rillas are  composed,  so  far,  of  Colonels  Terry,  Wharton,  Goree,  and 
Hatcher,  and  Captains  Lubbock,  Conner,  et  al.  We  will  organize  our- 
selves into  a  regiment,  elect  our  field  officers,  and  what  few  captains, 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  we  may  need  we  will  raise  after 
we  get  to  Virginia."  The  guerrilla  regiment  spoken  of  was  never 
raised — ED. 


316  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


abandoned  by  the  enemy.  I  have  been  too  much  occupied  to  get 
the  names,  or  the  number  of  prisoners.  .  .  .  Colonel  Terry 
captured  the  Federal  flag,  said  to  have  been  made,  in  anticipa- 
tion of  victory,  to  be  hoisted  over  our  position  at  Manassas.  He 
also  shot  from  the  cupola  of  the  courthouse  at  Fairfax  the  Fed- 
eral flag  left  there.  These  were  also  duly  forwarded  to  the  com- 
manding general.  .  .  .  Colonels  B.  F.  Terry  and  T.  S.  Lub- 
bock  (of  the  volunteer  staff)  were  very  active  and  energetic. 
When  unoccupied,  they  repeatedly  volunteered  their  services  to 
make  reconnoissances.  They  were  very  gallantly  seconded  by 
Captains  T.  Goree  and  Chichester,  who  were  also  very  useful  in 
conveying  orders." 

In  General  Beauregard's  report  is  the  following  commenda- 
tory notice: 

"It  is  also  proper  to  acknowledge  the  signal  services  rendered 
by  Cols.  B.  F.  Terry  and  T.  S.  Lubbock,  of  Texas,  who  had  at- 
tached themselves  to  the  staff  of  General  Longstreet.  These  gen- 
tlemen made  daring  and  valuable  reconnoissances  of  the  enemy's 
positions,  assisted  by  Captains  Goree  and  Chichester;  they  also 
carried  orders  to  the  field  and  on  the  following  day  accompanied 
Captain  Whitehead's  troop  to  take  possession  of  Fairfax  Court 
House.  Colonel  Terry,  with  his  unerring  rifle,  severed  from  its 
staff  the  Federal  flag  found  still  floating  from  the  cupola  of  the 
courthouse  there,  and  it  fluttered  to  the  ground.  He  also  se- 
cured a  large  Federal  garrison  flag,  designed,  it  is  said,  to  be 
unfurled  over  our  entrenchments  at  Manassas." 

The  day  after  the  battle  my  friend,  General  Waul,  sent  me 
the  following  telegram: 

"RICHMOND,  July  22,  1861. 
"To  F.  R.  Lubbock: 

"Terry  and  Lubbock  gained  laurels  in  the  battle  at  Manassas. 
They  are  unhurt.  T.  N.  WAUL/' 

As  Terry  and  Lubbock  were  known  to  have  been  in  the  bat- 
tle, this  message  relieved  my  mind  from  anxiety. 

Hon.  Sam  C.  Upshaw,  now  an  ex-State  Senator  of  Texas, 
participated  in  the  battle  in  a  Mississippi  command,  and  it  is 
possible  that  other  Texans  were  present. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  317 


The  first  call  on  Governor  Clark  was  for  3000  men,  and  the 
next  for  5000 — to  have  them  in  readiness  to  march  on  receipt 
of  orders  from  the  Secretary  of  War.  The  first  Confederate 
troops  to  leave  Texas  were  twenty  companies  of  infantry  for  Vir- 
ginia. Our  northern  border  was  cleared  of  enemies  by  Col.  W. 
C.  Young,  who,  with  his  regiment,  crossed  Red  River  in  May, 
captured  Fort  Arbuckle,  drove  the  United  States  troops  out  of 
the  Indian  Territory  into  Kansas,  and  secured  by  treaty  the 
friendship  of  the  Choctaws  and  Chickasaws.  Our  coast  cities 
were  all  open  to  attack.  The  old  San  Jacinto  veteran,  Gen  Sid- 
ney Sherman,  repaired  to  the  coast  under  orders  from  the  Com- 
mittee of  Public  Safety  to  look  after  the  fortifications  of  Galves- 
ton.  Sand  banks  along  shore  constituted  too  feeble  a  defense  to 
resist  an  enterprising  enemy  like  ours.  The  only  guns  on  hand 
with  which  to  man  regular  works  were  a  few  cannon  and  some 
munitions  of  war  captured  at  Brazos  Santiago.  Before  any- 
thing could  be  done  of  material  benefit,  General  Sherman  was 
relieved  from  his  arduous  position  by  the  Confederate  officer, 
Capt.  Jno.  H.  Moore,40  from  New  Orleans,  who  proceeded  in 
April,  1861,  to  fortify  Galveston  as  best  he  could,  putting  such 
cannon  as  he  could  procure  on  truck-carriages  and  hewn  timber 
platforms  behind  sandbag  breastworks.  The  captain  next  raised 
a  company  of  Confederate  troops  to  man  the  batteries,  and  did 
much  to  inspire  confidence.  The  cannon  taken  at  Fort  Clark 
were  also  utilized  in  coast  defenses,  under  the  direction  of  a 
Confederate  engineer  sent  out  by  President  Davis. 

When  it  was  known  in  Galveston  that  the  United  States  troops 
were  about  to  embark  at  Indianola  a  call  was  made  for  volun- 
teers, and  about  seventy  men  responded.  This  force  at  once 
sailed  for  Pass  Cavallo  on  board  the  Matagorda.  At  Saluria  the 
troops  were  transferred  to  the  General  Rusk. 

At  midnight  the  Rusk  was  hailed  by  the  United  States  ship 
Star  of  the  West,  lying  outside  the  bar  (off  Pass  Cavallo)  in 
deep  water  and  waiting  for  the  transport  Fashion  to  bring  out 
the  Federal  troops  from  Indianola. 

Capt.  Leon  Smith  answered :  "The  General  Rusk  with  troops 
on  board.  Can  you  take  our  line  now  ?" 

40  Colonel  Moore  was  made  commandant  of  Galveston  Island  by  Gen- 
eral Hebert  in  the  following  October. 


318  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"Certainly,"  replied  Captain  Howe  from  the  quarter-deck  of 
the  Federal  vessel.  He  then  asked  why  the  Fashion  had  not 
brought  the  troops,  and  was  told  that  the  Eusk  had  brought  out 
the  first  installment  and  the  Fashion  would  be  along  in  a  few 
hours  with  the  rest  of  the  troops  and  their  baggage. 

Captain  Howe  hardly  had  time  to  look  at  them  before  they 
presented  bayonets,  and  their  officer  commanded  him  to  surren- 
der. 

"To  what  flag  am  I  requested  to  surrender?"  he  asked. 

Ensign  Duggan  of  the  Wigfall  Guards  thereupon  stepped  for- 
ward with  the  lone  star  flag  of  Texas,  and  said  in  his  richest 
brogue :  "That's  it !  Look  at  it !  Me  byes,  did  ye  ever  see 
the  Texas  flag  on  an  Irish  jackstaff  before?" 

The  Yankee  captain  had  been  fairly  caught  in  a  trap  from 
which  extrication  was  impossible,  and,  seeing  that  resistance 
would  be  useless,  he  surrendered  with  the  best  grace  he  could, 
himself,  his  crew  of  forty-two  men,  and  his  vessel.  The  cap- 
tured cargo  consisted  of  900  barrels  of  provisions,  which  proved 
a  very  timely  and  welcome  addition  to  the  larder  of  our  troops. 
The  Star  of  the  West  was  convoyed  to  Galveston,  but  being  of 
too  heavy  draft  to  cross  the  bar,  was  taken  to  New  Orleans  and 
delivered  to  the  Confederate  States  naval  authorities. 

The  extension  of  Lincoln's  blockade  to  the  Texan  coast  brought 
the  usual  discomforts,  interruptions  of  trade,  and  actual  loss  of 
property  incident  to  such  a  state  of  siege. 

It  being  reported  July  9,  1861,  that  a  steamer  had  been  sighted 
in  the  gulf  off  Galveston  Island,  Captain  Chubb,  with  his  pilot 
boat,  the  Royal  Yacht,  accompanied  by  Col.  J.  S.  Sydnor,  sailed 
out  to  ascertain  her  character  and  the  object  of  her  visit. 

Displaying  a  white  flag,  Captain  Chubb  and  Colonel  Sydnor 
were  assisted  on  board  the  steamer,  and  a  friendly  conversation 
ensued.  They  were  told  that  the  steamer  had  come  to  blockade 
the  port  and  was  the  Federal  ship  of  war,  South  Carolina,  from 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  commanded  by  Captain  Alden.  Captain  Al- 
den  said  that  it  was  his  desire  to  have  a  friendly  intercourse  with 
the  citizens,  many  of  whom  he  hoped  were  for  the  Union.  When 
told  by  Captain  Chubb  that  there  were  no  Union  men  in  Galves- 
ton, he  expressed  his  surprise  and  regrets.  "Great  God !"  said 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  319 


he,  "Is  it  possible  that  you  have  really  none  among  you  who  are 
still  loyal  to  the  government  of  our  fathers  ?" 

Further  conversation  disclosed  the  fact  that  he  and  Captain 
Chubb  were  natives  of  the  same  city,  and  were  well  acquainted 
with  each  other's  families.  This  gave  a  pleasant  turn  to  the  talk, 
and  Alden  expressed  a  desire  to  receive  friendly  visits  from  the 
citizens,  and  especially  from  General  Houston.  Being  told  that 
General  Houston  was  no  longer  a  Union  man,  he  again  expressed 
surprise  and  regrets. 

The  South  Carolina  was  a  propeller,  2f70  feet  long,  three  42- 
pounder  guns  in  each  broadside,  a  swivel  gun,  several  smaller 
pieces  forward  and  aft.  Alden  said  he  would  allow  neutral  ves- 
sels five  days  in  which  to  leave  the  port.  Later  the  South  Caro- 
lina suddenly  and  unexpectedly  steamed  into  the  harbor,  seized 
five  small  vessels,  including  the  yacht  Dart  and  the  sloops  Shark 
and  Falcon,  and  put  to  sea.  She  returned  August  3d,  accom- 
panied by  the  Dart  (converted  into  a  war  vessel).  The  Dart  came 
close  inshore,  fired  a  few  shots,  and  retired.  The  next  day  the 
South  Carolina  made  her  appearance  in  a  menacing  attitude 
abreast  the  Confederate  defenses,  and  was  fired  on  by  the  Galves- 
ton  batteries.  The  shots  from  the  vessel  were  directed  at  the  bat- 
teries, but  were  thrown  at  such  an  elevation  as  to  leave  no  doubt 
of  the  wanton  intention  to  destroy  the  town.  Several  of  them 
fell  and  exploded  a  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  the  fort,  in  town, 
a  large  piece  of  shell  falling  near  the  public  square.  Some  went 
over  the  east  side  of  the  city,  but  did  no  damage.  One  shell  ex- 
ploded in  a  garden  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  rear  of  the 
batteries.  Sixteen  shots  from  the  steamer  were  replied  to  by 
fourteen  from  the  batteries,  the  only  casualty  on  shore  being  the 
killing  of  an  Italian  or  Portuguese  noncombatant.  After  the 
seventh  shot  the  steamer  kept  shifting  her  position  to  destroy 
the  accuracy  of  our  fire,  and  after  our  twelfth  shot  she  began 
working  her  way  toward  the  channel,  and  soon  thereafter  was 
in  full  flight,  making  her  way  to  the  protection  of  the  gulf  under 
all  the  steam  she  could  carry.  The  engagement  lasted  about  half 
an  hour.  The  South  Carolina  resumed  her  position  outside  the 
bar  to  prevent  the  ingress  or  egress  of  vessels. 

The  Houston  Telegraph  said :  "We  learn  that  our  friend 
Cave,  of  the  Civilian,  acted  during  the  bombardment  at  Galves- 


320  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ton  on  Saturday  evening  as  volunteer  aide  to  Colonel  Moore,  and 
bore  his  orders  on  horseback  from  battery  to  battery  under  fire 
of  the  enemy.  He  remained  with  Colonel  Moore  until  the  close 
of  the  firing.  With  the  modesty  that  is  so  admirably  character- 
istic of  him,  he  passes  over  the  part  he  bore  in  the  affair  alto- 
gether without  notice  in  the  minute  account  published  by  him 
in  the  Civilian." 

Under  date  of  August  5th,  the  foreign  consuls  stationed  at 
Galveston  addressed  a  formal  note  of  protest  to  Captain  Alden, 
in  which  they  said :  "The  undersigned  consuls  and  vice-consuls 
at  Galveston  consider  it  their  duty  to  enter  their  solemn  protest 
against  your  bombardment  of  this  city  on  the  evening  of  the  3d 
inst.,  without  having  given  any  notice  so  that  the  women  and 
children  might  have  been  removed ;  and  also  against  your  firing 
a  shell  into  the  midst  of  a  large  crowd  of  unarmed  citizens, 
among  whom  were  many  women  and  children,  causing  thereby 
the  death  of  an  unoffending  Portuguese,  and  wounding  boys  and 
peacefully  disposed  persons,  as  acts  of  inhumanity  unrecognized 
in  modern  warfare,  and  meriting  the  condemnation  of  Christian 
and  civilized  nations."  The  note  was  signed,  among  others,  by 
Arthur  Lynn,  British  consul,  and  the  consuls  for  France,  Spain, 
Belgium,  Holland,  Austria,  and  Prussia. 

In  reply  Alden  claimed  that  he  had  been  fired  on  first  (a  lame 
excuse,  had  it  been  true,  as  he  had  forced  the  fire),  and,  con- 
tinuing, said:  "You  protest  against  my  firing  a  shell  into  a 
crowd  of  unarmed  citizens,  among  whom  were  many  women  and 
children.  Good  God,  gentlemen,  do  you  think  such  an  act  was 
premeditated  ?  Besides,  was  it  not  the  duty  of  the  military  com- 
mandant (who,  by  his  act  in  the  morning,  had  invited  me  to  the 
contest)  to  see  that  all  such  were  out  of  the  way  ?  Did  he  not  have 
all  day  to  prepare?  ...  In  conclusion,  let  me  add  that  no 
one  can  regret  the  injury  to  unoffending  citizens  more  than  I  do. 
Still  I  find  no  complaints  of  my  acts  .  .  .  coming  from 
military  or  civil  authorities  of  Galveston,  and  with  due  deference 
to  your  consideration  and  humanity,  I  must  respectfully  remark 
that  it  is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  heard  that  the  women  and 
children  and  unarmed  citizens  of  our  American  towns  were  un- 
der the  protection  of  foreign  consuls." 

During  the  summer,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Baylor  conquered 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  321 


Arizona,  capturing  or  expelling  all  the  United  States  troops 
there. 

After  consultation  with  friends,  and  some  reflection  on  the 
matter,  I  determined  to  be  a  candidate  for  Governor  at  the  en- 
suing August  election.  I  wished  to  be  the  executive  head  of 
Texas,  that  I  might  support  the  Confederacy  and  assist  in  the 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  for  independence.  My  experi- 
ence in  canvassing  for  Lieutenant-Governor  gave  me  an  idea  of 
public  sentiment  towards  me,  and  I  thought,  as  did  some  of  my 
friends,  that  I  could  be  elected.  I  believed  I  could  make  Texas 
a  passably  good  Governor.  I  knew  that  if  elected  I  would  give 
to  the  people  an  honest,  faithful  administration;  therefore,  on 
the  18th  of  April,  1861,  from  my  home  on  Sims'  Bayou,  Har- 
ris County,  I  issued  an  address  to  the  voters  of  the  State  of 
Texas,  announcing  myself  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor. In  that  address  I  said: 

"Since  determining  to  be  a  candidate,  I  have  learned  that  many 
citizens — numbering  among  them  some  of  our  most  intelligent 
and  patriotic  men — have  advised  the  calling  of  a  nominating 
convention,  ignoring  all  the  former  party  issues,  basing  the  pres- 
ent call  entirely  upon  the  great  issue  now  being  tried,  of  adhesion 
to  the  cause  of  Southern  rights  against  those  who  may  favor  the 
idea  of  a  reconstruction  of  the  government.  It  is  well  known 
that  I  have  ever  been  a  States'  Rights  Democrat,  without  change 
or  turning,  and  in  favor  of  strict  party  organization.  When, 
however,  the  great  issue  was  to  be  met  and  fought  between  the 
true  sons  of  the  South  and  the  Black  Republicans  of  the  ]^orth, 
I  was  willing  and  did  drop  all  party  lines,  and  touched  elbows 
with  all  true  men  without  regard  to  party  differences.  If,  there- 
fore, a  convention  should  be  called  at  this  time  with  a  view  to 
nominating  candidates  for  State  offices,  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  all  who  are  known  to  be  loyal  and  true  to  the  present 
State  and  Confederate  governments  should  be  invited  to  partici- 
pate in  its  deliberations  and  actions,  and  I  am  free  to  say  that  if 
such  a  convention  is  determined  upon  and  held  by  the  people,  I 
will  most  cheerfully  bow  to  its  behests,  whether  its  action  be  fa- 
vorable to  my  present  expectation  or  otherwise.  Should  you,  my 
fellow  citizens,  call  me  to  the  position  to  which  I  aspire — al- 
though I  may  not  be  so  presumptuous  as  to  say  I  will  discharge 
21 


LUBBOCJCS  MEMOIRS. 


the  duties  with  ability — I  will  pledge  myself  to  act  as  I  have 
ever  done  in  every  place  I  have  accepted,  honestly,  impartially, 
and  faithfully,  administering  the  government  economically  but 
vigorously,  protecting  our  people  everywhere  over  our  broad 
State,  and  using  every  means  to  defend  our  fair  land  from  the 
tread  of  the  merciless  and  ruthless  invader,  even  though  it  should 
cost  millions  of  treasure  and  streams  of  blood." 

And  it  has  been  charged  that  the  Southern  people  were  led  into 
secession  by  designing  politicians.  The  charge  is  not  true.  On 
the  contrary,  the  people  themselves  were  the  authors  of  and  re- 
sponsible for  the  act,  being  impelled  to  it  by  a  long  train  of 
causes  of  which  it  was  not  only  a  logical,  but  inevitable  result. 
They  urged  prompt  measures  throughout  the  entire  South.  They 
took  the  lead  and  so  impressed  the  public  men  and  politicians 
with  their  determination  to  have  the  troubles  between  the  South 
and  the  North  settled  by  separation  that  the  public  men  and 
politicians  had  to  follow.  Mr.  Davis,  an  acknowledged  leader, 
was  opposed  to  the  movement,  and  did  not  favor  it  until  the  peo- 
ple of  his  own  State  had  seceded. 

The  question  of  co-operation,  that  was,  for  one  State  to  wait 
the  action  of  the  others,  and  then  to  confer  before  seceding,  was 
voted  down  by  the  people;  particularly  was  it  overwhelmingly 
voted  down  in  Texas.  It  will  not  be  denied  that  Gen.  Sam  Hous- 
ton, then  Governor  of  Texas,  the  ablest  and  most  popular  man  in 
the  State,  supported  in  his  views  by  many  other  able  men,  could 
not  stem  the  current  of  popular  sentiment,  and  they  were  com- 
pelled to  yield  to  the  decided  and  determined  wishes  of  the 
masses.  All  such  retired  quietly  to  private  life,  or  ignobly  joined 
the  ranks  of  those  who  insulted*ffnd  made  war  upon  their  own 
State,  or,  taking  a  middle  stand  that  any  honorable  man  can 
appreciate,  kept  their  allegiance  to  Texas  and  cheerfully  ren- 
dered such  assistance  as  they  could. 

The  people  of  the  entire  State  were  on  the  alert.  Every  man 
was  awake  to  the  importance  of  the  crisis,  and  was  discussing 
what  was  best  to  be  done.  Some  proposed  a  nominating  con- 
vention on  the  one  vital  issue  of  sustaining  the  action  of  the  seces- 
sion convention  in  withdrawing  Texas  from  the  Union  and  of 
carrying  on  the  war,  then  fully  inaugurated.  My  competitors  for 
Governor,  Gen.  T.  J.  Chambers  and  Gov.  Ed.  Clark,  both  Demo- 


LUB 'BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  323 


crats  and  secessionists,  were  as  fully  committed  on  these  ques- 
tions as  myself.  Hence  it  was  merely  the  choice  of  the  man  to 
enforce  the  existing  policy. 

The  State  Democratic  convention  met  at  Dallas  May  27,  1861, 
at  1  p.  m. 

Col.  John  M.  Crockett,  of  Dallas,  was  elected  temporary  chair- 
man and  Junius  W.  Smith,  of  Tarrant,  W.  H.  Thomas,  of  Dal- 
las, W.  J.  Sparks,  of  Wood,  were  appointed  secretaries. 

On  calling  the  list  of  counties,  the  following  responded :  Col- 
lin,  Coryell,  Cherokee,  Dallas,  Denton,  Ellis,  Grayson,  Harrison, 
Hardin,  Hopkins,  Jasper,  Lamar,  Navarro,  Parker,  Palo  Pinto, 
Eusk,  Tarrant,  Tyler,  Marion,  Wood,  Wise,  and  Young. 

On  motion  of  T.  M.  Likens,  of  Eusk,  gentlemen  present  from 
counties  unrepresented  were  invited  to  take  seats  in  the  conven- 
tion and  participate  in  its  debates. 

The  following  were  appointed  a  committee  on  permanent  or- 
ganization :  M.  D.  Ector,  Thos.  J.  Johnson,  Ward  Taylor,  A.  U. 
Wright,  J.  W.  Angel,  J.  A.  White;  J.  J.  Howe,  D.  E.  Wood,  Geo, 
Wilson,  J.  L.  Lovejoy,  J.  M.  Hardeman,  W.  E.  Sanders,  P.  Mur- 
rah,  L.  Yates,  B.  F.  Eoss,  L.  T.  Wheeler,  J.  W.  Squyers ;  and  the 
following  a  committee  on  credentials :  J.  W.  Smith,  A.  W.  Craw- 
ford, E.  H.  Cumby,  B.  F.  Eoss,  and  E.  W.  Lunday. 

In  perfecting  permanent  organization,  Maj.  T.  M.  Likens  was 
elected  chairman;  Col.  John  M.  Crockett  and  B.  F.  Eoss,  vice- 
presidents,  and  E.  W.  Lunday,  W.  J.  Sparks,  Junius  W.  Smith, 
and  W.  H.  Thomas  secretaries. 

The  committee  on  credentials'  report  was  adopted,  and  also  the 
following  resolution  submitted  by  said  committee : 

"That  in  all  cases  where  counties  are  represented  by  duly  ac- 
credited delegates,  those  delegates  shall  cast  the  entire  vote  to 
which  such  counties  may  be  entitled,  without  reference  to  any 
proxies  from  said  counties;  and  that  where  counties  are  repre- 
sented solely  by  proxies,  that  the  person  or  persons  acting  as 
proxies  shall  cast  the  entire  vote  to  which  said  counties  may  be 
entitled." 

As  there  were  but  twenty-six  counties  represented,  on  motion 
of  J.  J.  Howe,  the  convention  adjourned  sine  die,  it  being 
"deemed  unwise  and  impolitic  to  make  any  formal  nominations 
for  the  offices  of  Governor,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  Commis- 


324  LUBBOC1TS  MEMOIRS. 


sioner  of  the  General  Land  Office."  The  other  State  officials 
were  elected  the  year  previous,  1860. 

Though  the  representation  was  too  small  to  justify  a  nomina- 
tion for  State  officials,  there  were  some  quite  distinguished  men 
in  attendance,  such  as  J.  M.  Crockett,  P.  Murrah,  S.  B.  Hen- 
dricks,  Geo.  B.  Lipscomb,  Jas.  H.  Jones,  T.  M.  Likens,  M.  D. 
Ector,  Malcolm  D.  Graham,  and  Dr.  K.  M.  Gano. 

I  expected  the  convention  to  fail  for  lack  of  a  quorum,  and 
consequently  did  not  attend.  Had  the  convention  nominated  a 
man  for  Governor,  I  would  have  cheerfully  supported  him. 

As  there  was  no  nomination  made  for  Governor,  it  was  a  free- 
for-all  race,  the  people  to  say  who  they  wanted — Clark,  Cham- 
bers, or  Lubbock.  We  all  pledged  ourselves  to  support  the  war, 
and  there  was  nothing  else  discussed. 

Both  Clark  and  Chambers  made  an  active  canvass.  Having 
gone  over  the  State  so  thoroughly  two  years  before  in  my  second 
contest  for  Liuetenant-Governor,  I  determined  to  do  but  little 
in  that  direction,  and  made  very  few  speeches.  Many  good 
friends  interested  themselves  in  my  behalf.  E.  H.  Gushing,  then 
of  the  Houston  Telegraph,  and  Col.  John  Marshall,  of  the  Aus- 
tin State  Gazette,  were  notably  my  warm  supporters.  The  race 
was  a  very  close  one  between  Governor  Clark  and  myself.  After 
the  election  returns  were  in,  I  wrote  to  the  Secretary  of  State 
for  the  result.  While  not  official,  he  informed  me  that  I  was 
certainly  elected.  This  was  made  manifest  when  the  soldier  vote 
came  in,  for  the  soldier  boys  supported  me  enthusiastically. 

The  Texans  attracted  so  much  attention  by  their  soldierly 
conduct  and  intelligent  action  in  the  first  battle  of  Manassas, 
Colonels  Terry  and  Lubbock  were  asked  if  a  regiment  such  as 
those  who  had  taken  part  in  the  engagement  could  be  raised  in 
Texas  for  the  Virginia  army.  The  reply  was,  "Yes;  ten  such 
regiments,  immediately,  if  desired." 

The  result  was  that  in  a  few  days  they  left  for  Texas  with 
authority  from  the  secretary  of  war  to  raise  a  regiment  for  the 
Confederate  army  in  Virginia,  then  commanded  by  Gen.  Joe  E. 
Johnston. 

When  it  was  announced  that  Terry  and  Lubbock  had  authority 
to  raise  a  regiment  for  Virginia,  there  was  such  a  rush  of  com- 
panies that  the  quota  was  soon  full,  and  many  had  to  be  rejected. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  325 


The  rendezvous  of  the  companies  was  at  Houston,  where  they  or- 
ganized, with  B.  F.  Terry  as  colonel  and  T.  S.  Lubbock  as  lieu- 
tenant-colonel.41 

About  the  last  of  August  preparations  were  made  to  march 
the  regiment  from  Houston  to  New  Iberia,  La.,  in  two  divisions, 
and  thence  convey  it  by  steamboat  to  New  Orleans.  Colonel 
Terry  led  the  first  division,  or  half  of  his  command.  Some  of 
the  men  were  mounted;  a  large  number,  however,  left  Houston 
afoot.  I  was  glad  that  my  neighbor,  S.  W.  Allen,  and  myself  felt 
able  to  provide  quite  a  number  of  horses  for  their  march. 

Having  just  been  elected  Governor,  and  deciding  to  visit  Rich- 
mond  to  better  inform  myself  of  public  affairs,  I  determined  to 
accompany  the  Terry  Rangers,  known  also  as  the  Eighth  Texas 
Cavalry.  The  trip  was  a  very  hard  one,  the  entire  country  east- 
ward to  the  Mississippi  being  under  water,  in  many  places  waist 
deep  to  the  men  and  belly  deep  to  the  horses.  It  was  particularly 
bad  along  part  of  the  route  to  New  Iberia.  The  men  walking  be- 
came so  footsore  and  lame  that  they  could  not  travel. 

Colonel  Terry  placed  me  at  the  head  of  a  detail,  consisting  of 
two  intelligent  men,  the  Tate  brothers,  and  requested  me  to  go 
to  the  settlements  and  collect  a  train  of  wagons  or  carts,  so  that 
his  footsore  men  could  be  moved  on  to  New  Iberia.  After  much 
hard  riding,  and  with  great  difficulty,  I  secured  a  number  of 
Louisiana  carts,  which  very  materially  facilitated  our  advance. 

I  left  my  valuable  saddle  horse,  Gim  Crack,  at  New  Iberia  in 
charge  of  the  hotelkeeper  till  my  return  from  Richmond.  This 
horse  was  a  great  favorite  of  mine,  as  I  had  raised  him  on  my 
ranch  and  liked  his  qualities  as  a  roadster.  I  feared  when  leav- 
ing him  that  I  would  not  find  him  on  my  return.  I  did,  however, 
and  rode  him  back  to  Texas.  On  arriving  at  New  Orleans,  the 
rangers  were  quartered  at  the  cotton  press,  and  in  a  few  days  left 
for  Virginia.  In  the  meantime  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnston  (command- 
ing the  Confederate  forces  in  Kentucky),  who  knew  the  officers 

41  The  Telegraph  of  August  7th  thus  notes  the  return  of  Colonels 
Terry  and  Lubbock:  "  We  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  our  friends 
Terry  and  Lubbock  this  morning.  .  .  .  We  welcome  them  back  and 
glory  in  them  as  true  and  noble  representatives  of  Texan  character. 
They  have  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of  rangers  for  service  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  we  doubt  not  that  they  will  take  such  a  regiment  that  will 
do  glorious  service  to  our  cause  in  the  war." 


326  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and' many  of  the  men,  had  been  negotiating  with  the  Secretary  of 
War  to  have  the  rangers  assigned  to  him,  arguing  that  he  needed 
just  such  troops  as  he  knew  them  to  be,  and  that  he  could  have 
them  properly  armed  and  equipped  in  his  department  and  put 
them  into  immediate  service. 

His  request  was  acceded  to,  and  Colonel  Terry  on  reaching  Chat- 
tanooga received  a  dispatch  ordering  him  to  report  to  General 
Johnston  in  Kentucky.  It  was  a  bitter  disappointment  to  all  to 
be  diverted  from  their  original  destination,  but  fortunately  Gen- 
eral Johnston  was  well  known  by  the  officers  and  men,  and 
they  became  resigned  to  the  inevitable,  and  proceeded  to  this 
unexpected  field  of  operations.  The  rangers  at  once  began  to 
prove  themselves  worthy  of  the  confidence  of  General  Johnston. 
No  better  soldiers  ever  drew  battle-blade  in  freedom's  cause  than 
Terry's  Texas  Rangers.  I  bade  the  noble  fellows  a  long  farewell 
at  Chattanooga.  I  never  saw  the  hero  Terry  in  life  again.  He 
fell  a  few  months  later  while  gallantly  leading  his  regiment  at 
the  battle  of  Woodsonville,  Ky.  I  continued  my  journey  to  Rich- 
mond that  I  might  confer  with  President  Davis  and  learn  from 
him  how  I,  when  installed  as  Governor,  could  best  aid  the  Con- 
federacy. 

The  bustle  and  excitement  of  military  preparations  was  no- 
ticeable all  along  the  route  from  Texas  to  Virginia.  The  people 
seemed  entirely  sure  of  success. 

On  my  arrival  at  Richmond  I  found  the  city  astir  with  warlike 
preparations,  soldiers  and  officers  coming  and  going;  companies 
marching  and  drilling,  the  air  resonant  with  the  blare  of  military 
music,  and  Confederate  flags  floating  from  public  and  private 
buildings. 

President  Davis  had  gone  to  the  front  on  army  business,  but 
I  met  him  at  the  train  on  which  he  returned.  Introducing  my- 
self, without  ceremony,  and  explaining  the  object  of  my  visit, 
I  received  from  him  a  most  cordial  greeting  and  welcome. 

The  President  imparted  much  information  as  to  his  plans  of 
operation,  and  expressed  himself  fully  as  to  the  ways  in  which 
the  Governors  of  the  several  States  could  strengthen  the  power 
and  further  the  onward  march  of  the  Confederacy  without  im- 
pairing their  rights  or  trenching  on  their  sovereignty. 

His  winning,  unaffected  manners  impressed  me  very  favorably, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  327 


and  I  bade  him  farewell  with  the  thought  (which  I  still  hold) 
that  he  was  pre-eminently  fitted  for  the  high  position  to  which  he 
had  been  called  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  South. 

During  my  few  days  sojourn  at  the  Confederate  capital  I  spent 
the  most  of  my  time  with  the  Fifth  Texas  regiment,  at  Camp 
Texas,  in  the  vicinity,  and  especially  with  Captain  Eogers'  com- 
pany. I  left  Kichmond  October  6,  1861,  for  Texas.  While 
steaming  up  the  Teche  to  New  Iberia,  the  boat  with  the  remain- 
ing companies  of  the  Eighth  Texas  passed  up,  my  brother,  Lieut.- 
Col.  Tom  Lubbock  being  in  command.  We  recognized  each  other 
and  signaled  a  farewell,  I  going  to  Texas  to  my  duties  as  Gov- 
ernor, and  he,  as  a  soldier,  to  meet  the  invaders  at  the  threshold 
of  our  Southland. 

That  was  our  last  greeting  on  earth. 

The  Houston  Telegraph,  in  speaking  of  my  return,  said : 

"We  were  made  glad  yesterday  by  the  appearance  in  our  sanc- 
tum of  the  pleasant  countenance  of  our  friend,  Hon.  F.  R.  Lub- 
bock, Governor-elect  of  the  State,  after  an  absence  of  some  weeks, 
ranging  about  in  the  other  States  of  the  Confederacy.  He  is  in 
first-rate  health,  and  looks  every  inch  the  popular  Governor  he 
is  bound  to  be.  He  sat  down  and  told  us  all  he  saw  while  he  was 
gone,  and,  of  course,  we  will  tell  the  people  all  we  have  a  right 
to  repeat. 

"He  was  at  Richmond  some  days,  and  left  the  camps  of  the 
Texas  troops  at  12  o'clock  on  the  night  of  the  5th.  He  says  the 
troops  are  generally  well.  The  officers  of  the  two  regiments  have 
been  appointed,  and  were,  for  the  most  part,  satisfactory,  though 
many  would  have  preferred  all  the  appointments  had  been  made 
in  Texas. 

"The  last  two  companies  of  the  Fifth  regiment  had  arrived, 
making  the  full  twenty  companies.  The  Fourth  regiment  was 
under  marching  orders  for  Western  Virginia.  The  Fifth  was  in 
daily  expectation  of  orders. 

"From  conversation  with  those  high  in  authority,  Mr.  Lub- 
bock is  satisfied  that  the  views  of  the  government  are  to  protect 
the  southern  coast  by  pressing  the  war  home  upon  the  enemy  on 
the  border.  He  is  also  satisfied  that  a  great  battle  may  take  place 
any  day.  The  city  of  Washington  is  pretty  much  shut  up,  and 


328  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


McClollan  must  soon  either  fight  or  starve.  President  Davis  is 
improving  in  health,  and  looks  perfectly  well. 

"Judge  Eeagan,  our  Postmaster-General,  has  been  a  good  deal 
abused.  We  have  complained  a  little  ourself.  But  Governor 
Lubbock  says  that  no  man  works  harder  than  Judge  Reagan,  and 
he  believes  he  will  do  what  is  right  as  far  as  it  is  made  known  to 
him. 

"Terry  and  Lubbock's  regiment  were  being  provided  with 
horses  and  equipments  in  Nashville.  It  will  be  the  best  mounted 
regiment  in  the  service." 

When  I  reached  home  I  began  at  once  to  get  ready  for  my 
inauguration  as  Governor. 

It  was  not  without  sincere  regret  at  the  thought  of  leaving, 
even  temporarily,  our  pleasant  home  in  the  country,  that  Mrs. 
Lubbock  and  I  began  preparations  in  the  latter  part  of  October 
for  departure  to  the  State  capital.  The  ranch  and  negroes  were 
left  in  charge  of  our  stock-keeper.  The  ranch  consisted  of  1300 
acres,  about  100  of  which  were  under  cultivation.  The  natural 
increase  of  my  herds  at  this  time  was  about  100  colts  and  2000 
calves  annually.  Our  residence  was  left  in  the  special  care  of 
our  neighbor,  Mrs.  Briscoe. 

We  traveled  by  rail  fifty  miles  to  Hempstead,  the  terminus  of 
the  Central  road,  and  thence  by  dirt  road  to  Bastrop,  myself  and 
family  riding  in  a  comfortable  close  carriage  I  had  purchased 
in  Galveston,  and  the  servants  in  a  good  spring  wagon,  which 
also  contained  a  bountiful  store  of  groceries  and  other  supplies. 

We  spent  a  few  days  with  my  brother,  John  B.  Lubbock,  and 
our  friend  C.  K.  Hall,  at  Bastrop.  Here  I  learned  that  there 
was  some  complication  in  the  returns  and  there  was  a  doubt  as 
to  my  election.  At  the  suggestion  of  my  intelligent  and  ever 
prudent  wife,  who  stated  that  it  would  be  highly  mortifying  for 
us  to  continue  on  to  Austin  in  the  manner  we  had  traveled  to 
Bastrop,  and  then  learn  that  one  of  my  opponents  had  been 
elected  Governor,  I  left  her  at  my  brother's  and  went  on  to  the 
capital  alone  to  acquaint  myself  with  the  true  status  of  affairs. 
There  I  found  that  I  had  been  elected,  but  by  so  small  a  majority 
that  I  determined  to  remain  at  Bastrop  until  the  count  was  made 
and  the  result  declared  by  the  Legislature. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  329 


CHAPTER  NINETEEN. 

Lubbock's  Administration — Inauguration  and  Address — Some  Appoin- 
tees—  Message  Extracts — Personnel  of  the  Ninth  Legislature  — His- 
toric Buildings — General  Hebert  and  Coast  Operations  —  My  "Burn- 
ing" Letter — My  Veto  Message — Texan  Forces  in  the  Field  and 
Noted  Texas  Rangers. 

The  Ninth  Legislature  met  on  the  4th  day  of  November,  1861, 
and  each  house,  a  quorum  being  present,  perfected  organiza- 
tion.42 

The  next  day  both  houses  met  in  joint  session  in  the  hall  of 
representatives  to  count  the  votes  and  announce  the  result.43 

48  The  following  were  the  officers  of  the  Senate: 

Lieutenant-Governor  J.  M.  Crockett,  president;  P.  De  Cordova,  sec- 
retary; A.  W.  Steel,  first  assistant  secretary;  George  W.  Breeding-,  sec- 
ond assistant  secretary;  J.  Q.  St.  Clair,  engrossing  clerk;  F.  Everett, 
enrolling  clerk;  D.  C.  Burleson,  sergeant-at-arms;  J.  W.  Murphy,  door- 
keeper; and  William  Smith,  chaplain. 

The  following  were  the  officers  of  the  House: 

C.  W.  Buckley,  speaker;  W.  L.  Chalmers,  chief  clerk;  W.  W.  Chal- 
mers, assistant  clerk;  John  L.  Garrison,  engrossing  clerk;  E  M.  Bacon, 
enrolling  clerk;  William  N.  Henderson,  sergeant-at-arms;  J.  Mann,  as- 
sistant sergeant-at-arms;  and  John  L.  Lovejoy,  doorkeeper. 

43  The  votes  cast  for  the  various  candidates  at  the  election  held  Au- 
gust 5,  1861,  were  as  follows:  For  Governor:  F.  R  Lubbock,  21,854; 
T.  J.  Chambers,  13,759;  Edward  Clark,  21,730;  scattering,  85.  For 
Lieutenant  Governor:  John  M.  Crockett,  38,321;  F.  P.  Foscue,  12,160; 
scattering,  2510.  For  Commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office:  S. 
Crosby,  35,689;  John  Henry  Brown,  9492;  G.  W.  Vanvleck.  4027;  H.  J. 
Jones,  1630;  scattering,  429. 

Besides  the  above  an  election  was  held  November  6th  for  members  of 
the  Confederate  Congress,  with  the  following  results:  First  district: 
John  A.  Wilcox.  3448;  E.  R.  Hord,  2470;  and  W.  H.  Stewart,  1409 
votes.  Second  district:  C.  C.  Herbert,  2479;  Fred  Tate,  2034;  A.  M. 
Lewis,  1367;  and  F.  W.  Chandler,  633  votes.  Third  district:  Peter  W. 
Gray,  4952;  A.  P.  Wiley,  1673;  William  R.  Reagan,  21;  and  scattering, 
5  votes.  Fourth  district:  F.  B.  Sexton,  1644:  J.  L.  Hogg,  1062;  J.  N. 
Maxcy,  1053;  T.  J.  Word,  926;  A.  W.  O.  Hicks,  350;  and  W.  R.  Poag, 
100  votes.  Fifth  district:  M.  D.  Graham,  2946;  R.  B.  Hubbard,  2686; 
and  scattering,  46  votes.  Sixth  district:  W.  B.  Wright,  3444;  B.  H. 
Epperson  2777;  T.  R.  Rogers,  537;  R.  H.  Ward,  256;  and  scattering, 
1  vote. 


330 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


It  was  declared  in  due  form,  that  F.  K.  Lubbock,  having  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  the  votes,  was  the  Governor-elect. 

When  the  official  announcement  of  my  election  reached  us  at 
Bastrop,  we  started  at  once  for  Austin.  Our  road  led  up  the 
west  side  of  the  Colorado  to  Webberville,  and  thence  on  the  east 
side  through  the  prairies  to  the  capital. 


OOV.  F.  R.  LUBBOCK  AND  MRS.  ADELE  BARON  LTJBBOCK. 


Arriving  at  Austin,  we  went  to  the  executive  mansion,  which 
had  been  made  ready  for  our  occupancy.  We  brought  with  us 
excellent  servants:  the  boys,  Washington  and  Eli,  about  grown, 
expert  in  the  care  of  horses  and  outdoor  work,  and  two  girls 
trained  by  Mrs.  Lubbock  in  the  culinary  art  and  as  housemaids. 
Besides  my  saddle  horse,  Gim  Crack,  I  had  a  pair  of  spotted 
Morgan  horses,  and  a  pair  of  elegant  sorrels. 

In  the  closing  message  of  his  official  term,  Governor  Clark 
said: 

"The  most  general  of  the  army  difficulties  was  the  fact  that 
the  troops  were,  to  a  great  extent,  required  to  be  infantry. 


LUBS OCX'S  MEMOIRS.  331 


"No  practical  means  have  been  left  untried  to  form  into  mili- 
tary companies  all  the  able-bodied  men  in  Texas.  The  chief  ob- 
jection to  enlistment  was  the  repugnance  to  infantry  service. 
The  predilections  of  Texans  for  cavalry  service,  founded  as  it  is 
upon  their  peerless  horsemanship,  is  so  powerful  that  they  are 
unwilling  in  many  instances  to  engage  in  service  of  any  other 
description.  .  .  . 

"Another  serious  obstacle  has  been  the  want  of  legislative 
authority  and  of  the  material  resources  for  placing  volunteers 
in  organized  and  effective  condition.  .  .  . 

"The  last  serious  obstacle  to  the  military  operations  of  the 
State  ...  is  the  fact  that  the  previous  Legislature  did  not 
have  a  full  appreciation  of  the  greatness  of  the  conflict  upon  the 
threshold  of  which  we  then  stood. 

"We  could  all  see  a  triumphant  and  majestic  confederacy  of 
States  in  the  vista  of  the  not  distant  future ;  but  all  did  not  real- 
ize a  sense  of  the  trial  and  struggle  through  which  we  were  to 
pass  before  it  could  be  firmly  established.  .  .  . 

"Twenty  thousand  Texans  are  now  battling  for  the  rights  of 
our  new-born  but  gigantic  government.  They  are  waiting  to  win 
fresh  laurels  in  heroic  old  Virginia.  They  are  ready  to  aid  in 
lifting  the  yoke  from  Kentucky's  prostrate  neck,  and  are  mar- 
shaled in  defense  of  the  sovereignty  of  Missouri.  They  have 
covered  themselves  with  glory  on  the  plains  of  New  Mexico,  and 
are  formed  in  a  cordon  of  safety  around  the  border  of  our  great 
State. 

"If  such  positive  results  have  sprung  from  the  spontaneous 
action  of  the  people,  what  may  we  hope  will  not  be  accomplished 
when  the  entire  latent  forces  of  the  State  are  shaped  into  sys- 
tem and  efficiency.  The  realities  of  the  great  war  in  which  we 
are  engaged  will  require  the  exercise  of  all  your  financial  ability, 
all  your  military  skill  and  devotion  to  the  public  welfare.  I  am 
confident  that  you  will  display  all  these  qualities  and  at  the  same 
time  that  you  will  rely  unwaveringly  upon  'Him  who  doeth  all 
things  well/  The  fruits  of  your  labors,  I  trust,  will  soon  be 
peaceful  independence  and  a  prosperous  State,  and  Texas  .  .  . 
strengthened  in  the  power  to  aid  in  the  establishment  of  a  gen- 
eral government." 


332  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


I  had  scarcely  time  to  examine  my  future  official  residence 
before  I  was  called  to  the  capitol  for  installation.  This  ceremony 
occurred  in  the  hall  of  representatives,  in  the  presence  of  both 
houses  of  the  Legislature  and  a  large  assemblage  of  citizens, 
and,  with  attendant  incidents,  is  thus  described  by  the  State  Ga- 
zette of  November  9,  1861 : 

"Thursday  (November  7th)  was  spent  mostly  upon  the  in- 
auguration and  its  ceremonies. 

"At  a  quarter  to  12  m.  both  houses  met  in  joint  session,  an 
immense  concourse  of  people  present.  At  12  m.  the  Governor 
and  Lieutenant-Governor  elect,  and  the  supreme  judges  were 
escorted  into  the  hall  by  a  committee  of  the  houses.  Governor 
Clark  delivered  a  brief  valedictory  address,  conceived  to  be  in 
good  taste  and  delivered  with  some  apparent  embarrassment. 

"Governor  Lubbock  then  took  the  oath,  administered  by  Chief 
Justice  Wheeler,  and  read,  in  his  earnest  and  emphatic  manner, 
his  inaugural,  which  was  frequently  interrupted  by  cheers  and 
other  manifestations  of  approval. 

"Lieutenant-Governor  Crockett  then  took  the  oath,  adminis- 
tered by  -Chief  Justice  Wheeler,  and  delivered  his  address." 

My  inaugural  address  was  as  follows: 
"Gentlemen  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  ladies, 

and  gentlemen : 

"The  time  designated  by  the  Constitution  that  you,  gentlemen 
of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  shall  meet  and  en- 
ter upon  the  important  duties  assigned  to  you  having  arrived, 
permit  me  to  congratulate  you  that  you  are  here  assembled  to- 
day for  that  purpose,  in  a  free  land,  untrammeled  and  unawed 
by  the  mercenaries  of  despotism.  Let  me  congratulate  you,  fel- 
low citizens,  that  while  some  of  our  sister  States  have  been  and 
are  now  being  invaded,  the  soil  of  our  beloved  State  is  free  from 
the  presence  of  our  enemies,  except  such  as  are  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  our  brave  soldiers. 

"A  generous  and  confiding  people,  by  their  suffrages,  have 
called  me  to  the  executive  chair  of  a  great  and  sovereign  State, 
a  member  of  the  proud  and  powerful  Confederacy. 

"I  feel  deeply  conscious  of  the  great  responsibilities  attaching 
to  the  position  at  this  important  crisis.  Much  has  already  been 
done  by  the  retiring  executive  to  place  Texas  side  by  side  with 


LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS.  333 


her  sister  States  in  the  present  struggle ;  but,  gentlemen,  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  we  have  as  yet  but  seen  the  beginning,  and 
I  am  resolved,  with  your  aid  and  support,  so  long  as  I  occupy  the 
position  confided  to  me  by  the  people,  that  her  footsteps  in  the 
career  of  honor  and  patriotism  shall  be  onward,  and  the  precious 
interests  intrusted  to  my  keeping  be  rendered  back  at  the  proper 
time  uninjured  and  untarnished. 

"It  is  useless  at  this  time,  gentlemen,  to  discuss  the  causes 
which  have  led  to  the  present  state  of  affairs  The  history  of  our 
wrongs  is  a  long  and  bitter  one,  and  has  been  so  often  discussed 
and  reviewed  by  the  great  minds  of  the  country  that  it  has  be- 
come familiar  to  you  all.  You,  together  with  a  large  majority 
of  our  fellow  citizens,  have  long  decided  that  grievances  to  such 
an  extent  existed  as  to  warrant  separation  from  those  with  whom 
for  so  long  a  period  we  had  been  politically  connected.  That 
separation  was  consummated  by  us  after  mature  reflection,  in 
view  of  all  the  attendant  dangers  and  difficulties.  Many  had 
hoped  that  we  would  have  been  permitted  to  depart  in  peace, 
and  that  those  with  whom  we  could  no  longer  live  in  brotherhood 
would  at  least  allow  us  to  retire  from  a  copartnership  that  had 
become  onerous  and  oppressive,  and  take  with  us  our  institution 
that  had  become  so  hateful  to  them.  This  fond  hope  was  not  to 
be  realized.  Those  who  had  heretofore  professed  friendship  for 
us  and  a  willingness  to  stand  by  our  constitutional  guarantees, 
became  our  most  vindictive  foes,  vieing  with  abolitionists  who 
should  be  first  in  the  field  for  our  subjugation. 

"The  war  was  inaugurated  by  our  enemies,  and  our  once  peace- 
ful and  happy  land  is  now  the  scene  of  this  inhuman  struggle. 

"The  Lincoln  government  vainly  boasted  the  base  and  hire- 
ling soldiery  would  overrun  and  subjugate  the  South  in  sixty 
days.  Eight  months  have  passed  away,  and  we  find  this  wicked 
and  boastful  government,  after  warring  for  that  length  of  time 
against  a  power  not  half  their  equal  in  numbers,  forced  to  pur- 
sue on  every  line  of  military  operations  a  defensive  policy ;  their 
armies  defeated  on  every  battlefield,  and  their  hireling  soldiers 
panic-stricken  before  our  army  of  citizens. 

"In  all  this,  a  kind  Providence  has  hovered  near  our  armies, 
giving  us  victory  after  victory  over  our  enemies. 

"In  portions  of  our  country,  heretofore  subject  to  casualties 


334  L(JB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


that  have  caused  the  earth  to  fail  in  the  productions,  genial  show- 
ers have  fallen  upon  the  land;  abundance  has  been  given  to  us; 
our  granaries  are  filled;  plenty  prevails  in  our  midst,  and  the 
people  feel  that  the  great  God  who  presides  over  the  destinies  of 
nations  and  'sits  on  the  throne  judging  right/  is  on  our  side  and 
will  bless  us  in  this  struggle. 

"Thus  far  our  efforts  have  been  crowned  with  success.  Let 
all  praise  be  given  to  our  gallant  soldiers,  who  have  defended 
the  integrity  of  our  soil. 

"It  has  been  said,  gentlemen,  that  this  is  a  war  for  slavery.  I 
tell  you  it  is  a  wax  for  liberty !  Upon  the  issue  of  this  war  must 
depend  our  status  in  all  time  to  come.  We  must  either  maintain 
our  liberties  by  our  strong  arms  and  stout  hearts,  or  we  must 
consent  to  become  the  most  abject  slaves  of  the  basest,  most  cor- 
rupt, and  vulgar  despotism  that  ever  clutched  in  its  unhallowed 
grasp  the  liberties  of  a  free  people. 

"I  know,  gentlemen,  that  in  your  hearts  you  have  already  de- 
termined that  this  war  must  be  carried  on  with  promptness  and 
vigor  to  ultimate  success. 

"I  call  upon  you,  therefore,  in  the  name  of  patriotism,  honor, 
and  all  that  you  hold  most  dear,  to  devise  and  carry  out  such 
wise  and  efficient  measures  as  will  strengthen  the  arm  of  the 
Confederate  States  and  aid  them  in  speedily  achieving  for  us 
our  independence,  pledging  to  you  my  most  cordial  approval  and 
co-operation  in  every  such  measure. 

"I  trust  you  will  see  that  those  gallant  men  who  have  served 
the  State  well  and  faithfully  be  fully  provided  for,  and  that  no 
Texan  soldier  shall  charge  his  State  with  ingratitude.  They  de- 
serve well  of  their  country.  They  have  and  will  continue  to  sus- 
tain the  reputation  of  their  State  as  the  home  of  a  chivalrous  and 
warlike  people. 

"Gentlemen,  to  the  ladies  of  our  country  we  owe  much.  In 
our  trials  and  troubles  they,  too,  have  been  with  us.  To  prepare 
comforts  for  the  soldiers,  their  busy  needles  have  been  plied  in- 
cessantly ;  their  smiles,  their  tears,  and  their  prayers  accompany 
the  soldiers  to  the  battlefield.  They  yield  up  to  the  cause  of  their 
country,  right  bravely,  husbands,  brothers,  sons,  and  lovers.  They 
give  up  ease,  luxury,  and  elegance  for  the  soldiers'  benefit. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  335 


"Can  a  people,  thus  supported  and  encouraged,  be  subdued  by 
the  base  Hessians  of  a  corrupt  and  fanatical  government  ?  No ! 
Never,  while  one  bold  heart  is  left  to  combat ! 

"Gentlemen,  I  am  pleased  to  know  that  at  the  head  of  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Confederate  States  we  have  men  of  ability,  in- 
tegrity, and  patriotism;  and  while  I  have  every  confidence  and 
feel  satisfied  that  they,  are  doing  everything  in  their  power  to 
secure  our  liberties  and  chastise  our  insolent  and  remorseless 
foe,  it  is,  nevertheless,  our  duty  to  see  that  our  State  is  put  in  an 
attitude  of  self-defense,  from  the  seaboard  to  the  hills,  and  our 
soil  defended  against  the  polluting  tread  of  abolition  hordes. 
Our  frontier  must  be  guarded,  at  every  cost,  against  the  ruthless 
Indian  foe ;  the  lives  of  our  men,  women,  and  children  preserved 
from  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife. 

"Texas  must  pay  punctually  to  the  Confederate  government 
her  portion  of  the  war  tax.  I  have  no  fears  but  that  our  people 
will  promptly  respond  to  this  sacred  call  of  patriotism,  and,  in 
addition,  cheerfully  meet  such  taxation  as  may  be  necessary  to 
carry  on  our  State  government  with  efficiency. 

"I  trust  that  every  citizen  will  feel  that  he  must  perform  his 
part  in  the  great  struggle  now  going  on,  that  prudence  and  econ- 
omy will  enter  into  the  administration  of  every  department  of 
government,  and  that  every  public  servant  will  look  well  to  the 
welfare  of  the  country. 

"Let  me  say,  in  conclusion,  that  I  am  here  in  accordance  with 
the  wishes  of  the  people ;  that  I  bring  with  me  to  the  capital  the 
kindest  feelings  towards  all  good  men,  having  no  prejudices 
against  this  party  or  that  party,  this  man  or  that  man.  I  come 
here  determined,  as  far  as  in  my  power  lies,  to  see  that  the  laws 
are  enforced  impartially  and  to  carry  on  the  State  government 
for  the  benefit  of  the  people,  with  honesty  and  economy. 

"I  enter  upon  the  discharge  of  my  duties  free  and  untram- 
meled,  bound  by  no  pledges  other  than  to  a  faithful  performance 
of  every  trust  confided  in  me. 

"I  trust  every  citizen  in  this  broad  land  will  see  the  necessity 
of  lending  his  aid  in  sustaining  the  glorious  cause  in  which  we 
are  now  engaged,  that  of  securing  to  millions  yet  unborn  the 
right  of  self-government. 

"Let  us  all  stand  upon  the  Constitution  that  has  been  adopted 


336  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


by  our  people,  presenting  one  unbroken  front  to  tyranny  in  every 
shape  it  may  present  itself,  with  the  determination  never  to  place 
our  liberties  in  the  keeping  of  the  dastard  foe  that  now  seeks  to 
conquer  us. 

"I  hope,  gentlemen,  that  your  session  will  prove  harmonious, 
and  that  your  every  act  will  redound  to  your  praise  and  the  good 
of  our  country.  For  the  present  I  have  done ;  at  a  future  day  I 
will  take  pleasure  in  giving  you  my  views  more  in  detail. 

"Ladies,  for  your  attention,  I  thank  you,  and  from  my  heart 
say — God  bless  you."44 

I  selected  for  my  private  secretary  Wm.  M.  Walton,  a  bright 
young  lawyer  at  that  time,  later  Attorney-General  of  the  State, 
and  to-day  one  of  the  acknowledged  leaders  of  the  Texas  bar. 
After  serving  as  my  private  secretary  a  few  months,  he  resigned 
the  position,  raised  a  company  for  the  Confederate  army,  and 
joined  Carter's  regiment  at  Hempstead. 

James  Paul,  a  Texan  citizen  of  English  birth,  an  excellent 
gentleman,  then  living  at  Castroville,  succeeded  Mr.  Walton. 
Owing  to  physical  infirmity  he  was  incapacitated  for  military 
service,  and  remained  with  me  during  my  term  of  office. 

Mr.  C.  S.  West,  a  promising  lawyer,  who  after  the  war  became 
a  member  of  the  State  Supreme  Court,  was  my  Secretary  of 
State.  He,  too,  soon  caught  the  war  fever  and  enrolled  himself 
in  the  army.  His  successor  as  Secretary  of  State  was  the  Hon. 
B.  J.  Towns,  a  retired  district  judge  of  fine  abilities. 

44  The  following  are  two  of  the  many  favorable  comments  which 
Governor  Lubbock's  inaugural  evoked  from  the  press  of  the  State,  a 
mirror  that  then  reflected  in  truthful  outlines  and  just  proportions  the 
sentiments  of  the  people. — ED. 

44  In  every  line  of  Governor  Lubbock's  address  will  be  recognized  the 
frank  earnestness  of  the  man  and  his  hearty  sympathies  with  the  people 
over  whose  interests  he  is  called  to  preside.  He  made  his  appearance 
in  the  representative  chamber  clothed  in  homespun,  and  seemed,  in- 
deed, the  people's  choice. 

44  He  expressed  a  determination  to  make  every  exertion  to  place  the 
State  iu  a  defensible  position,  from  the  seaboard  to  the  mountains.  Un- 
less we  are  much  mistaken  in  the  man,  Frank  Lubbock  will  redeem  this 
pledge  and  carry  out  his  expressed  determination  to  its  fullest  extent." 
State  Gazette. 

"  The  inaugural  address  of  Governor  Lubbock  is  a  document  worthy 
of  the  head  and  heart  of  a  patriot." — Texas  Republican. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  337 


To  the  position  of  Adjutant-General,  at  that  time  a  most  re- 
sponsible office,  I  appointed  J.  T.  Dashiell,  of  San  Antonio,  an 
accomplished  officer  of  large  experience.  To  him  I  was  greatly 
indebted  for  whatever  success  I  achieved  in  the  management  of 
military  affairs. 

These  appointments  gave  general  satisfaction,  and  justly,  too, 
as  time  demonstrated. 

With  entire  confidence  in  my  chosen  associates,  I  entered 
cheerfully  upon  my  duties. 

In  'my  opinion  the  first  essential  was  to  put  Texas  in  a 
thoroughly  defensible  condition,  and  to  that  purpose  I  subor- 
dinated all  others  for  the  time  being,  and  bent  every  energy  to 
the  task  until  it  was  accomplished. 

My  views  on  this  subject  were  outlined  in  my  inaugural  ad- 
dress, and  were  given  more  in  detail  in  my  first  message  to  the 
Ninth  Legislature. 

The  greatest  immediate  danger  that  we  apprehended  was  from 
Indian  hostilities. 

In  my  message  I  said :  "Our  Indian  troubles  should  occupy 
your  attention.  Since  the  withdrawal  of  Texas  from  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  and  the  adoption  of  the  system  by  the 
Confederate  States  of  defending  the  frontier  by  regiments  of 
mounted  men,  comparative  quiet  in  that  quarter  has  prevailed. 
It  is,  however,  now  no  infrequent  occurrence  to  hear  of  murders 
being  committed  and  property  stolen  by  our  Indian  enemies. 

"I  am  very  loth  at  this  time  to  express  any  dissatisfaction  at 
what  the  Confederate  States  is  attempting  in  the  way  of  defend- 
ing and  protecting  our  frontier,  knowing  as  I  do  that  its  every 
desire  is  to  accomplish  good  for  our  confederacy.  Yet  I  must  say 
that  I  have  no  faith  in  the  policy  heretofore  pursued  with  what 
are  called  reserve  Indians.  If  the  government  is  settled  in  its 
policy  to  retain  these  Indians  on  reserves  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
tecting, civilizing,  and  supporting  them,  they  should  be  confined 
strictly  to  the  territory  provided  for  them.  I  most  respectfully 
suggest  that  you  adopt  some  system  for  frontier  protection  best 
suited  to  our  situation  and  the  requirements  of  the  country,  and 
urge  its  immediate  adoption,  through  our  members  of  Congress, 
by  the  government  of  the  Confederate  States.  Under  the  exist- 


22 


338  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ing  state  of  the  country,  in  case  of  an  invasion  we  must  rely  al- 
most entirely  on  the  militia  of  the  State." 

In  regard  to  the  defense  of  our  seacoast  and  the  procurement 
of  heavy  guns  for  that  purpose,  I  said : 

"In  connection  with  the  subject  of  public  defense,  I  call  the 
attention  of  your  honorable  body  to  the  exposed  condition  of  our 
gulf  coast ;  and,  while  I  feel  confident  that  the  government  of  the 
Confederate  States  will  use  every  exertion  for  the  defense  of  our 
coast,  yet  it  is  certain,  without  the  heavy  guns  necessary  for  that 
object,  but  comparatively  little  can  be  done.  The  recent  experi- 
ment made  to  forward  cannon  from  the  State  of  Louisiana 
demonstrates  that  we  will  have  to  rely  exclusively  on  such  heavy 
ordnance  as  may  be  now  in  the  State,  or  such  as  can  be  made 
within  its  limits.  We  have  among  us  many  citizens  who  under- 
stand the  manufacture  of  cannon  and  of  small  arms,  and  we  also 
have  quite  a  number  of  foundries.  We  have  in  Cass  and  Bowie 
counties,  and,  it  is  believed  in  other  locations,  iron  of  a  quality 
well  adapted  to  the  purpose,  and  steps  should  be  taken  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  manufacture  of  these  weapons,  indispens- 
able to  our  defense.  Legislation  providing  for  the  manufacture 
of  these  arms  is  necessary.  Contracts  might  be  made  for  that 
purpose.  If  deemed  best,  a  State  foundry  might  be  established 
at  some  suitable  point." 

In  reference  to  the  financial  condition  of  the  State,  I  said : 

"The  State,  heretofore  resting  in  that  security  which  charac- 
terizes all  powerful  governments  in  times  of  profound  peace, 
with  no  prospect  of  war,  has,  in  pursuance  of  a  generous  and 
liberal  policy,  appropriated  her  large  means  to  purposes  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  and  other  objects  of  general  use- 
fulness ;  in  consequence  of  which,  you  find  at  this  time,  when  a 
full  treasury  is  so  much  needed,  the  State  government  abso- 
lutely without  a  dollar  subject  to  appropriation  for  the  purpose 
of  carrying  on  civil  affairs  or  placing  the  State  in  a  condition  of 
security  against  the  invasion  of  the  enemy. 

"It  will  require  your  deepest  wisdom  and  most  patient  exer- 
tion to  sustain  your  State  in  the  present  crisis,  because,  gentle- 
men, it  devolves  on  you  not  only  to  provide  the  means  for  the 
support  of  the  civil  government  and  to  pay  her  outstanding  mili- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  339 


tary  debt,  but  also  to  devise  and  adopt  such  measures  as  will 
enable  Texas  to  perform  her  duty  toward  the  government  of  the 
Confederate  States,  and  thus,  to  the  extent  of  her  ability,  enable 
those  in  authority  to  conduct  the  war  with  vigor  and  prosecute  it 
to  a  successful  termination.  .  .  . 

"By  an  act  of  the  Confederate  States  Congress,  that  govern- 
ment assumes  to  pay  all  debts  incurred  by  the  several  States  in- 
cident to  their  secession  from  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  Texas,  one  of  the  seceding  States,  will  have  a  large  claim 
against  the  Confederate  government  under  that  law.  Prudence 
demands  that  you  adopt  such  measures  as  will  speedily  collect  the 
testimony  necessary  to  establish  our  claim,  in  order  that  it  may 
be  promptly  examined  and  audited  by  the  government." 

The  public  printer  appointed  having  failed  to  give  bond,  and 
there  being,  consequently,  no  person  then  authorized  to  do  the 
public  printing,  I  recommended  that  the  law  relating  to  the  sub- 
ject be  so  amended  as  to  thereafter  require  persons  bidding  to 
file  bonds  with  their  bids. 

The  institutions  for  the  insane,  blind,  and  deaf  and  dumb 
were  recommended  to  the  consideration  of  the  Legislature,  and 
all  necessary  legislation  for  their  benefit  invoked. 

The  law  under  which  the  school  fund  was  loaned  to  certain 
railroad  companies  required  that  the  roads  borrowing  any  por- 
tion of  it  should  be  sold  if  payment  was  not  made  at  the  matur- 
ity of  their  paper.  The  following  was  recommended : 

"It  is  a  matter  of  paramount  importance  that  the  school  fund 
should  be  secure  and  be  devoted  eventually  to  the  sacred  purpose 
for  which  it  was  designed  by  the  wise  foresight  of  the  framers 
of  the  Constitution.  Yet,  owing  to  the  many  disadvantages  that 
would  result  from  the  purchase  by  the  State  of  the  property 
mortgaged  by  the  railroad  companies,  it  would  be  well  for  the 
Legislature  to  consider  the  propriety  of  extending  some  relief  to 
these  companies.  Should  it  be  deemed  advisable  that  the  time 
be  extended,  it  will  be  for  the  wisdom  of  your  honorable  body  to 
devise  a  mode  by  which  the  prior  lien  of  the  State  on  these  roads 
will  not  be  in  any  way  prejudiced,  the  school  fund  protected,  and 
our  system  of  internal  improvements  perfected.  Should  such  a 
measure  be  devised,  it  would  not  only  prevent  the  consequences 


340  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


which  would  follow  under  the  law  from  the  sale  contemplated  by 
it,  but  result  in  great  public  good."45 

I  recommended  to  the  Legislature  to  confine  their  attention  to 
matters  of  general  interest  and  to  the  enactment  of  laws  of  press- 
ing necessity,  saying :  "That  every  endeavor  will  be  made  by  you 
to  bear  the  standard  of  Texas  aloft,  that  you  will  struggle  by 
every  means  in  your  power  to  strengthen  the  arms  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  I  feel  fully  satisfied." 

After  assuring  them  that  I  would  heartily  co-operate  in  the 

45  These  are  some  of  the  press  comments: 

"In  perusing  it  [Governor  Lubbock's  message]  the  reader  will  be 
struck  with  the  simplicity,  frankness,  decisiveness,  which  characterize 
the  whole  document.  As  might  have  been  expected  from  Frank  Lub- 
bock,  he  says  plainly  what  he  has  to  say — goes  straight  to  the  point  and 
leaves  no  room  for  misconstruction  or  misapprehension  of  meaning."— 
Telegraph. 

The  Telegraph,  however,  failed  to  endorse  the  Governor's  recom- 
mendation that  Confederate  States  treasury  notes  be  made  receivable 
for  State  dues — that  is,  that  those  notes  be  made  Confederate  legal  ten- 
der. It  is  hard  to  see  how  Texas,  as  a  Confederate  State,  could  have 
done  otherwise  than  take  the  course  recommended  by  the  Governor. — 
ED. 

"Zeno, "  the  Austin  correspondent  of  the  Telegraph,  wrote  of  the 
message: 

"  It  is  an  able  document,  and  it  will  meet  with  the  approval  of  all 
who  read  it.  A  thousand  copies  were  ordered  to  be  printed  in  the 
House,  and  five  hundred  in  the  Senate.  Among  other  things,  he  recom- 
mends that  the  outstanding  debt  of  the  State  be  made  receivable  for 
taxes  and  public  dues,  and  relief  to  our  railroad  companies." 

"  We  need  not  say  that  we  underwrite  every  word  it  contains.     We 
have  told  the  people  many  a  time  and  oft  of  what  stuff  Frank  Lubbock 
was  made,  and  they  will  find  it  out  before  his  term  of  office  expires.  "- 
San  Antonio  Herald. 

"Since  the  inauguration  of  Governor  Lubbock  we  have  spent  much 
time  in  Austin,  and  have  had  ample  opportunity  to  make  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  to  observe  and  admire  his  official  course.  He  is  no  ordinary 
man.  Frank,  open,  and  courteous  in  his  manners,  he  is  firm,  unflinch- 
ing, and  just  in  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  His  kindly  disposi- 
tion and  impulses  are  controlled  by  a  lofty  patriotism  that  never  yields 
to  personal  friendship  or  favoritism;  but  in  all  things  he  is  controlled 
by  a  sense  of  his  public  duties  and  by  what  he  conceives  to  be  the  inter- 
est of  his  country.  As  an  orator  he  has  been  considered  showy;  he  is 
also  earnest  and  profound.  The  people  of  Texas  have  indeed  been  for- 
tunate in  selecting  such  an  executive  at  such  a  juncture." — Telegraph. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  341 


perfection  of  every  measure  tending  to  the  promotion  of  the  gen- 
eral welfare,  I  said,  by  way  of  conclusion :  "Let  us  do  our  duty, 
and,  with  the  aid  of  an  all-wise  and  all-seeing  Providence,  our 
country  will  emerge  from  this  unholy  war  with  a  fame  world- 
wide and  her  honor  untarnished." 

The  Ninth  Legislature  was  an  able  and  patriotic  body,  includ- 
ing among  its  members  such  men  as  S.  B.  Maxey,  Pryor  Lea, 
Robert  H.  Guinn,  A.  M.  Branch,  Geo.  B.  Erath,  Geo.  P.  Finlay, 
Chauncey  B.  Shepard,  Stephen  H.  Darden,  and  N".  G.  Shelley  in 
the  Senate,  and  N".  H.  Abney,  Horace  Cone,  N.  H.  Darnell,  H. 
M.  Edmore,  R.  T.  Flewellen,  W.  E.  Goodrich,  R.  M.  Gano,  A.  M. 
Hobby,  S.  A.  Maverick,  A.  Navarro,  A.  H.  Rippetoe,  Chas.  Rus- 
sell, J.  A.  Stachely,  W.  A.  Wortham,  and  Frank  Williams  in  the 
House. 

They  came  together  with  a  fixed  purpose  to  sustain  the  Con- 
federate government  in  every  movement  calculated  to  insure  suc- 
cess. With  this  feeling,  they  began  at  once  the  good  work  of 
putting  Texas  in  the  proper  posture  of  defense.46 

Of  the  historic  buildings  dating  back  to  the  Republic  then 
standing  in  Austin  were  the  following:  The  president's  house, 
a  two-story  frame,  painted  white,  erected  on  the  site  of  the  pres- 
ent St.  Mary's  Academy,  only  occupied  by  Lamar  (though  it  was 

* 6  "  Zeno, ' '  correspondent  of  the  Telegraph,  thus  spoke  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  the  columns  of  his  paper: 

"Judge  Buckley  presides  with  great  dignity,  and  is  an  efficient 
speaker.  The  House  and  the  Senate  are  characterized  by  quietness  and 
good  order.  Austin  is  as  quiet  as  if  the  Legislature  was  not  in  session. 
The  lobbies  of  the  two  houses  are  empty,  and  there  are  very  few  '  look- 
ers on  in  Venice;'  no  money  to  lavish  this  session,  and  no  hangers  on 
for  the  '  loaves  and  fishes. '  .  There  is  no  telling  how  long  the 

Legislature  may  be  in  session;  perhaps  until  Christmas.  One  thing  is 
certain,  the  members  are  all  desirous  of  getting  away  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible; not,  however,  until  all  shall  be  done  which  the  exigencies  of  the 
times  demand.  .  .  .  The  people  of  this  section  are  better  off  than 
they  have  been  for  years — abundant  crops,  the  whole  country  alive  with 
hogs,  sales  of  beef,  continually  a  demand  for  wool — indeed,  everything 
seems  to  have  gone  well  with  the  people." 

"The  strictest  economy,"  says  "Quill,"  a  correspondent,  "is  prac- 
ticed by  the  members.  The  contingent  expenses  .  .  .  will  fall 
many  thousands  of  dollars  below  the  ordinary  expenditures  of  a  session. 
It  is  a  healthy  feature.  It  is  a  practical  recognition  of  war  times.  The 
people  will  applaud." 


342  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  executive  mansion),  Austin  having  been  abandoned  as  the 
capital  from  1842  to  1846;  the  residence  of  M.  de  Saligny,  the 
French  embassy,  an  elegant  one-story  frame,  painted  white,  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Robinson ;  and  the  old  capitol  (the 
first  ever  built  by  Texas),  a  one-story  frame,  facing  the  avenue, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  city  hall,  with  two  large  rooms,  sepa- 
rated by  a  wide  corridor,  with  open  gallery  in  front  and  shed 
rooms  in  rear  for  offices — the  north  room  was  the  Senate  cham- 
ber, and  the  south  the  chamber  for  the  representatives. 

The  most  elegant  of  the  public  buildings  then  in  use  was  the 
new  capitol,  erected  on  the  reserved  ground  at  the  head  of  Con- 
gress Avenue,  and  said  to  be  of  the  Ionic  order  of  architecture. 
It  was  two  stories  in  height,  and  constructed  of  an  oolite  of  a 
soft  white  color.  In  the  second  story  were  the  chambers,  with 
galleries,  for  the  two  houses,  the  Supreme  Court  room,  and  the 
apartment  for  the  State  library.  Its  cost,  including  furniture, 
was  estimated  at  $150,000.  This  building  was  destroyed  by  fire 
in  November,  1881,  and  its  former  place  is  now  occupied  by  our 
magnificent  granite  capitol. 

To  the  west,  and  in  the  rear  of  the  capitol,  was  a  one-story 
building,  constructed  of  rough  stone  and  containing  six  rooms, 
occupied  by  the  Department  of  State,  and  formerly  occupied  by 
the  General  Land  Office. 

To  the  east,  and  in  the  rear  of  the  capitol,  stood  the  treasury 
building,  a  two-story  edifice,  with  strong  vaults  in  the  basement, 
and  containing  twelve  rooms.  Besides  the  treasury,  it  was  occu- 
pied by  the  offices  of  the  Auditor  and  Comptroller. 

The  General  Land  Office  building  was  the  same  that  still 
stands  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  capitol  inclosure  and  is  now 
used  for  that  purpose — built  of  hard  limestone  and  two  stories  in 
height,  and  containing  fifteen  rooms. 

All  these  last  mentioned  public  buildings  erected  by  the  State 
were  paid  for,  as  has  been  before  stated,  out  of  the  Santa  Fe 
fund. 

The  executive  mansion  was  in  the  center  of  an  acre  (more  or 
less)  reservation,  just  west  of  the  block  at  the  head  of  Congress 
Avenue,  and  very  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  capitol  square. 
It  was  a  two-story  brick  edifice  having  a  portico  along  its  whole 
front,  with  six  Ionic  columns.  On  the  premises  were  the  usual 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  343 


outbuildings,  including  carriage  house  and  stables,  which  we 
found  very  convenient,  and  there  was  an  abundant  supply  of 
good  water  from  a  cistern  and  a  well.  The  grounds  were  enclosed 
with  a  neat  wooden  paling. 

We  had  plenty  of  room  for  comfortable  living  and  entertain- 
ment of  g\iests.  The  mansion,  though  plain  enough  in  this  age 
of  architectural  extravagance  in  public  buildings,  was  then  the 
finest  residence  in  Austin,  excepting  only  the  dwellings  of  J.  H. 
Raymond  and  ex-Governor  Pease.  All  three  of  these  buildings 
yet  remain  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  The  mansion,  without 
undergoing  any  essential  change,  has  been  successively  occupied 
as  a  residence  by  all  our  Governors  from  Pease  to  Sayers  in- 
clusive. Together  with  the  old  land  office  building,  it  remains 
as  a  notable  souvenir  of  the  earlier  days  of  the  State.  This  is  the 
first  and  last  executive  mansion  built  by  the  State;  the  Presi- 
dent's house,  on  the  east  side  of  the  avenue,  was  the  work  of  the 
Republic. 

At  an  early  day  we  had  a  levee  for  the  Legislature,  and  all  citi- 
zens were  invited.  It  was  a  jam,  and  everything  was  served  in 
profusion.47  We  never  dined  alone,  invariably  having  from  two 
to  a  dozen  members  with  us,  so  that  during  the  session  every 
senator  and  representative  had  been  to  our  table  once  or  oftener. 

Although  we  were  then  in  the  war,  provisions  were  plentiful 
and  cheap,  as  was  horse  feed.  I  may  mention,  for  instance,  that 
turkeys  during  that  winter  could  be  had  all  the  while  at  50  cents 
each;  barley,  most  excellent  horse  feed,  at  20  to  25  cents  per 
bushel. 

Our  house  was  always  open  to  visitors,  and  the  young  ladies, 
with  a  cripple  beau,  and  sometimes  with  an  old  man  unfit  for 
military  service,  would  come  to  the  mansion  quite  late  at  night, 
giving  us  good  music  and  singing.  I  have  left  my  bed  to  enter- 
tain them,  as  I  enjoyed  their  coming. 

We  made  the  Governor's  mansion  a  cheerful,  bright  home,  and 
we  loved  to  have  our  friends  enjoy  it  with  us  during  the  few 
hours  I  could  spare  from  public  duties. 

47 Says  the  Telegraph  of  November  27,  1861:  "The  Governor  gave  a 
levee  last  night.  The  mansion  was  crowded.  The  young  and  the  old 
enjoyed  themselves.  The  beaux  and  belles  danced.  The  old  people 
talked  and  walked." 


344  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


As  to  my  private  business,  I  had  put  all  that  aside.  I  had 
proper  men  to  look  after  my  ranch  and  other  matters,  so  I  gave 
myself  little  concern  about  them,  enabling  me  to  devote  my  whole 
time  to  the  people's  affairs.  Although  frequently  at  Houston, 
with  my  ranch  and  farm  only  six  miles  distant  from  that  place, 
I  did  not  see  them  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Our  house  I  never 
saw  again,  for  it  was  accidentally  burned,  with  everything  it  con- 
tained, while  we  were  in  Austin.  My  loss  amounted  to  fully 
$10,000,  as  there  was  nothing  insured. 

Brig.-Gen.  Paul  0.  Hebert  was  at  this  time  the  Confederate 
military  commander  over  Texas,  with  headquarters  temporarily 
at  Galveston. 

Hebert  was  a  rich  Louisianian,  of  fine  family,  and  a  fellow- 
graduate  at  West  Point  with  Sherman  and  Thomas.  He  had 
been  brevet  ted  colonel  for  gallantry  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  had 
achieved  some  distinction  as  an  engineer  in  the  public  works  on 
the  Mississippi.  While  Governor  of  Louisiana,  Hebert  had  ap- 
pointed Sherman  president  of  the  State  military  institute  at 
Alexandria.  Sherman  appears  then  to  have  been  a  fire-eating 
Democrat,  ready  to  die,  if  need  be,  for  the  South. 

General  Hebert  was  now  strong  and  vigorous  and  apparently 
about  45  years  old.  He  was  a  good  engineer,  and,  perhaps,  that 
was  the  reason  of  his  appointment  to  command  in  Texas,  as  our 
gulf  coast  needed  proper  defenses. 

In  the  fall  of  1861  Commander  W.  W.  Hunter,  of  the  Con- 
federate navy,  was  ordered  to  Texas  to  serve  as  superintendent  of 
coast  defenses,  under  General  Hebert.  He  proceeded  to  make 
an  elaborate  survey  of  the  waters  of  Galveston  Bay,  which  was 
of  great  service  in  our  subsequent  military  operations.  Hunter 
was  a  gallant  officer,  whose  scientific  knowledge  and  zeal  con- 
tributed much  to  our  success  in  that  quarter. 

Pending  proper  war  legislation  I  studied  the  military  situa- 
tion. 

Learning  that  only  one  regiment  (Colonel  Ford's)  occupied 
the  lower  Rio  Grande  region,  and  apprehending  invasion  from 
that  direction,  I  proposed  to  reserve  its  military  strength  for  its 
own  defense. 

I  wrote  at  once  to  General  Hebert,  at  Galveston,  expressing 
my  lively  apprehensions  for  the  security  of  the  country  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  345 


lower  Rio  Grande,  and  suggesting  that  it  would  be  best  for  the 
Confederate  government  to  decline  to  receive  into  its  service  any 
more  troops  from  that  portion  of  the  State  lying  west  of  the 
Colorado  River,  other  than  those  joining  Luckett's,  Garland's, 
and  Terrell's  regiments,  and  such  companies  as  might  be  sta- 
tioned in  that  district  of  country  for  its  defense.  Having  advised 
him  thus,  I  concluded  by  saying :  "I  am  ever  ready  to  place  at 
the  disposal  of  the  Confederate  government  all  the  resources  of 
the  State  for  the  preservation  of  its  soil  from  the  polluting  tread 
of  a  ruthless  invader.  And  my  ardent  desire  to  witness  the 
timely  concentration  of  an  adequate  force  for  the  protection  of 
the  lower  Rio  Grande,  a  region  of  country  now  of  vital  interest, 
has  induced  this  communication." 

A  little  while  before  this,  General  Hebert  thus  complained  to 
the  Secretary  of  War :  "To  tell  you  how  totally  unprepared,  con- 
fused, and  defenseless  I  found  this  department,  .  .  .  the 
difficulties,  .  .  .  from  lack  of  means,  guns,  arms,  ammuni- 
tion, and  a  proper  military  organization,  would  be  tedious. 
.  .  As  an  engineer,  I  can  but  too  well  appreciate  the  de- 
fenseless state  of  the  seacoast,  see  plainly  what  is  needed  gener- 
ally, but,  of  course,  can  only  deplore  my  inability  to  remedy  the 
evil.  I  much  fear  that  I  have  brought  my  little  military  reputa- 
tion to  an  early  grave." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  these  forebodings  were  soon  realized. 

The  night  after  my  inauguration,  Lieutenant  Jouett,  of  the 
United  States  blockading  vessel  Santee,  captured  and  set  fire  to 
the  Royal  Yacht,  a  Confederate  vessel,  in  Galveston  harbor.48 

48  On  November  7th  it  was  determined  by  Captain  Eagle,  of  the  San- 
tee,  to  destroy  the  General  Rusk  in  Galveston  harbor.  At  midnight  two 
launches  with  forty  men  under  Lieutenant  Jouett  put  off  from  the 
Santee  and  pulled  quietly  towards  the  General  Rusk,  a  few  miles  away. 
When  near  the  schooner,  the  launches  grounded,  and  in  the  confusion 
the  alarm  was  given  and  the  attacking  party  driven  off  by  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  General  Rusk.  Lieutenant  Jouett  then  turned  about  and 
pulled  for  the  Royal  Yacht,  not  far  distant.  She  was  carried  by  board- 
ing and  her  crew  captured  after  a  desperate  struggle  of  thirty  minutes. 
The  yacht  was  fired  by  the  Federals,  and  they  returned  in  triumph  tc 
the  Santee  with  thirteen  prisoners.  This  brilliant  exploit  cost  the  en- 
emy, according  to  his  own  account,  three  killed  and  six  wounded,  and 
the  Confederates  the  thirteen  men  constituting  the  crew  of  the  yacht. 


346  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS 


Demoralization  grew  apace.  November  15th,  a  week  later, 
General  Hebert,  writing  from  Galveston,  addressed  the  Secretary 
of  War  as  follows : 

"There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  defense  of  Galveston,  or  any 
other  point  on  this  coast,  in  the  event  of  a  formidable  attack,  is 
a  very  difficult  if  not  an  impossible  matter ;  yet  an  effort  must  be 
made  in  that  direction  and  this  place  held  as  long  as  possible. 
It  is  a  cotton  port,  and  if  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy  would 
be  a  nucleus  for  the  disaffected,  of  which  there  are,  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  many  in  this  State.  As  a  matter  of  necessity  connected 
with  the  defense  and  possession  of  the  island,  I  have  directed  the 
planking  of  the  railroad  bridge,  connecting  with  mainland,  so  as 
to  admit  of  the  passage  of  troops.  The  heavy  guns,  so  long  on 
the  way,  have  not  yet  reached  this  place." 

This  letter  would  seem  to  indicate  a  lack  of  confidence  in  his 
ability  to  meet  the  difficulties  before  him.  Eeally,  General 
Hebert  appeared  somewhat  bewildered  at  the  magnitude  of  the 
task  assigned  him,  and  not  to  have  matured,  at  least  at  the  be- 
ginning of  my  administration,  any  definite  line  of  policy.  The 
heavy  guns  referred  to  were  a  battery  en  route  from  Alexandria, 
and  drawn  by  oxen. 

In  reply  to  General  Hebert's  letter,  Secretary  of  War  Judah 
P.  Benjamin  wrote  that  there  was  then  stored  at  San  Antonio 
(Hebert's  supposed  headquarters)  ammunition  to  supply  the 
immediate  needs  of  at  least  15,000  men  (three  times  the  number 
under  arms  in  Texas),  and  that  he  regretted  that  he  could  not 
supply  any  arme  at  the  time,  but  had  hopes  of  doing  so  in  the 
near  future.  "In  the  meantime,"  concluded  the  Secretary,  "it 
is  well  to  continue  to  encourage  the  people  to  collect  and  preserve 
all  their  arms  and  ammunition,  and  to  rely,  as  far  as  possible, 
upon  their  own  means  of  defense  in  case  of  attack.  You  may 
assure  them,  however,  that  their  confidence  in  the  Confederate 
government  shall  not  be  disappointed  and  that,  if  threatened  or 
invaded,  they  shall  not  be  left  without  assistance." 

Believing  that  the  storage  of  cotton  along  the  coast  would  in- 

The  latter  were  taken  prisoners,  three  of  them  wounded.  This  was 
rather  mortifying  to  us,  as  it  indicated  bad  management  to  allow  an  en- 
terprising enemy  such  an  opportunity  for  mischief.  Our  men  from  the 
Rusk,  however,  soon  extinguished  the  fire  and  saved  the  vessel. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  347 


vite  attack  by  the  enemy,  I  issued  a  proclamation  November 
30th  forbidding  the  transportation  and  the  storing  of  cotton  at 
any  points  within  striking  distance  of  the  enemy's  vessels.  This 
order  had  a  good  effect  in  preventing  the  capture  of  cotton  by 
raiding  parties  from  the  Federal  blockading  ships. 

Our  long  line  of  frontier,  subject  to  Indian  raids  and  threat- 
ened with  invasion  by  the  Federals  from  the  northwest,  did  not 
present  so  difficult  a  problem  as  the  defense  of  our  many  hundreds 
of  miles  of  seacoast.  The  former  we  had  been  accustomed  to 
protect  from  the  earliest  days  of  the  Republic  down  to  the  time 
of  annexation,  and  often  subsequent  to  that  time,  and  we  had  a 
population  well  fitted  and  prepared  for  that  mode  of  warfare. 
But  our  coast  line,  reaching  from  the  Sabine  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
was,  from  the  beginning  of  hostilities,  at  the  mercy  of  an  enemy 
who  possessed  a  navy,  while  we  were  without  a  warship  of  any 
character,  without  shore  batteries,  and  without  heavy  guns.  At 
once  the  Confederates,  with  the  limited  means  at  command,  be- 
gan to  erect  earthworks,  providing  them  with  what  guns  we  could 
procure ;  but  our  shore  batteries  after  all  were  very  few,  of  hur- 
ried and  rude  construction,  and  equipped  with  short-range  guns, 
— so  that  it  required  great  vigilance  to  see  that  launches  from 
the  blockaders  were  not  allowed  to  land.  That  we  had  no  deep- 
water  ports  was  much  in  our  favor,  for  vessels  of  heavy  draught 
could  not  cross  our  bars,  and  the  Federals,  except  in  a  few  places, 
could  only  send  launches  to  the  shore  for  the  purpose  of  depre- 
dating. 

To  meet  and  repel  the  enemy  in  his  carrying  out  of  such  tac- 
tics, I  organized  a  body  of  irregular  troops  called  the  "coast 
guards,"  and  these  proved  themselves  to  be  equal  to  the  work 
assigned  them,  responding  intelligently  and  effectively  to  the 
demands  of  every  emergency. 

Eumors  of  the  proposed  evacuation  of  Galveston  soon  began 
to  reach  me  at  the  capital.  It  was  reported  that  all  portable  prop- 
erty, public  and  private,  was  being  moved  from  the  island ;  that 
the  hospital  stores  and  the  sick  had  arrived  in  Houston,  and 
that  the  Galveston  News  had  taken  quarters  at  the  latter  place. 

From  General  Hebert's  well  known  despondency  and  lack  of 
any  definite  plan  of  defense,  it  was  easy  to  believe  that  these  ru- 
mors had  some  foundation. 


348  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


To  encourage  Hebert  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  I  wrote 
him  a  letter  offering  to  share  with  him  the  responsibility  of  burn- 
ing the  city  of  Galveston,  if  he  thought  best,  on  its  evacuation. 

While  disclaiming  any  disposition  to  interfere  with  the  de- 
fense of  the  State,  I  said  in  this  letter,  dated  December  7th : 

"I  wish  you  to  understand  that  I  am  willing  to  and  will  share 
with  3rou  any  responsibility  you  may  be  called  upon  to  take  in 
the  delicate  and  arduous  duties  you  are  compelled  daily  to  per- 
form. 

"It  has  appeared  to  me  that  the  various  channels  across  the 
bars  should  be  immediately  closed,  including  the  Bolivar  chan- 
nel and  the  one  at  the  west  end.  If  these  channels  are  allowed 
to  remain  open  the  enemy  will  most  certainly  be  enabled  to  take 
possession  of  the  bays  and  the  mouths  of  the  rivers,  Trinity,  San 
Jacinto,  Buffalo  Bayou,  etc.,  and  can  also  get  sufficiently  near  the 
railroad  bridge  at  Virginia  Point  to  destroy  the  bridge  and  the 
works  at  the  point.  .  .  .  Every  effort  should  be  made  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  effecting  a  landing,  .  .  .  and  to 
drive  them  off  entirely,  or  much  crippled,  in  their  attempt  to 
land. 

"If,  however,  it  is  found  impossible  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
taking  possession  of  the  island,  then  I  would  suggest,  as  a  der- 
nier resort,  that  the  city  of  Galveston  be  entirely  destroyed, — 
buildings  and  everything  else  which  can  afford  them  comfort, 
convenience,  or  shelter.  Every  cistern  (wooden  or  brick)  should 
be  entirely  destroyed,  the  water  turned  out,  and  the  cisterns  made 
wholly  unfit  for  use  again.  The  stock,  including  horses,  cattle, 
and  sheep,  to  be  driven  from  the  island,  and  every  spear  of  grass 
burned. 

"If  you  should  leave  the  city  unharmed,  the  enemy  will  go 
into  the  most  delightful  winter  quarters,  with  every  comfort  and 
convenience.  .  .  .  On  the  contrary,  if  you  should  destroy  the 
place,  turning  off  the  water  from  the  cisterns,  they  will  be  ex- 
posed to  the  severe  northers  and  rains  that  will  soon  be  upon 
them,  forced  to  drink  salt  or  brackish  water,  and  be  compelled 
to  abandon  the  point  or  visit  the  mainland  for  wood  and  water, 
where  you  would  be  able  to  cut  them  to  pieces.  Constant  ex- 
posure and  bad  water  would  produce  their  results,  and  the  whole 
force  thus  subjected  to  disease  and  death. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  349 


"If  the  enemy  is  permitted  to  capture  the  city  of  Galveston 
without  a  fight,  and  a  severe  one  at  that,  .  .  .it  would  dis- 
pirit the  people  from  one  end  of  the  State  to  the  other;  if  there 
be  treason  hiding  its  head  in  the  land,  it  will  rear  itself  in  our 
midst,  ready  to  yield  a  willing  obedience  to  the  invaders,  .  .  . 
if  by  so  doing,  the  homes  and  property  of  traitors  would  be  se- 
cure from  destruction  by  the  enemy." 

General  Hebert,  in  his  answer,  thanked  me  for  my  proffered 
co-operation,  but  said  nothing  of  my  suggestion  as  to  Galveston. 

In  a  few  days  Mayor  Thos.  Joseph  wrote  me  that  the  citizens 
of  Galveston  had  been  informed  that  I  had  ordered  that  city 
burned,  and  "that,  while  they  were  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice 
for  the  public  good  and  to  regard  any  required  act  of  military 
necessity  a  patriotic  duty,  they  would  like  to  know  the  circum- 
stances under  which  the  Governor  had  advised  the  burning." 
This  letter  was  the  outcome  of  a  meeting  of  the  city  council, 
called  at  the  suggestion  of  M.  M.  Potter,  representative  in  the 
Legislature  from  the  Galveston  district. 

Replying  on  December  19th  to  the  mayor's  communication,  I 
enclosed  a  copy  of  my  letter  of  the  7th  of  December  to  General 
Hebert,  and  said,  among  other  things:  "In  writing  the  letter 
to  General  Hebert,  I  was  actuated  alone  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism 
and  determination,  on  my  part,  ...  to  show  to  an  un- 
natural and  vindictive  enemy  a  settled  purpose  on  our  part  to  re- 
sist to  the  bitter  end,  that  we  were  prepared  for  a  sacrifice  of 
property,  life,  and  all  but  honor,  in  the  present  struggle.  Hav- 
ing had  no  communication  with  General  Hebert  on  this  subject, 
and  hearing  daily  rumors  in  regard  to  the  evacuation  of  Galves- 
ton, I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  make  such  suggestions  as  appeared 
proper  under  all  the  circumstances.  The  letter  speaks  for  itself. 
I  had  no  right  to  give  an  order  to  the  commanding  general.  I 
made  suggestions  to  him,  and  assured  him  that,  if  he  deemed 
the  destruction  of  Galveston  a  great  military  necessity,  I  would 
most  cheerfully  share  with  him  any  responsibility  taken  in  the 
premises." 

Repelling  with  scorn  the  imputation  of  personal  hostility  to 
the  city,  I  went  on  to  say :  "I  have  from  1836,  when  Galveston 
was  a  barren  island,  .  .  .to  the  present  moment,  watched 
with  pride  and  pleasure  the  city's  rapid  strides  to  greatness  and 


350  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


wealth,  and  nothing  but  considerations  of  great  military  neces- 
sity would  cause  me  to  see  one  stone  or  plank  from  the  many 
beautiful  buildings  that  adorn  this,  our  lovely  island  city,  re- 
moved from  its  proper  place;  but  I  will  repeat  what  I  have  said 
in  substance  to  General  Hebert,  that  I  would  rather  see  the  city 
one  blackened  ruin  than  that  a  miserable,  fanatical,  abolition 
horde  should  be  permitted  to  occupy  it,  gloating  over  their  gains 
and  laughing  to  scorn  our  abandonment  of  so  important  a 
strategic  point." 

In  concluding,  I  promised  that  when  official  duties  would 
permit,  I  would  visit  Galveston  and  make  any  other  explanation 
deemed  necessary.  I  had  nothing  to  hide  from  anybody,  and 
upon  the  first  intimation  of  the  sentiment  in  Galveston  I  made 
the  desired  information  public.  When  at  Galveston,  in  March, 
1862,  I  made  a  speech  at  the  Tremont,  explaining  fully  all  the 
circumstances.  I  claimed  that  the  suggestion,  not  order,  made 
in  that  letter  was  the  prompting  of  as  patriotic  a  heart  as  ever 
urged  the  defender  of  his  fireside  on  to  duty  and  to  battle.  I  did 
not  try  to  cover  the  letter  up,  as  many  would  have  done,  by  say- 
ing that  it  was  written  in  order  to  scare  the  enemy  away  from 
our  shores ;  but  said,  instead,  that  in  all  sincerity,  as  the  head  of 
the  people,  I  was  first,  when  I  thought  it  necessary,  to  take  upon 
myself  the  responsibility  of  broaching  that  which  seemed  an  in- 
evitable consequence  at  the  time.  I  told  the  people  that  I  was 
prompted  by  the  conception  of  what  was  right. 

Letters  were  written  me  by  many  old  and  honored  citizens  who 
entertained  views  similar  to  my  own, — by  Ben  C.  Franklin, 
A.  C.  McKeen,  and  others.  They  did  not  blame  me ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  said  we  were  in  a  struggle  in  which  such  things  might 
be  admissible,  if  it  was  intended  to  carry  out  the  purpose  for 
which  the  civil  conflict  was  instituted.  Nor  did  the  people  show 
me  any  indignities,  or  indicate  in  any  way  that  they  thought  less 
of  me. 

The  newspapers  of  the  State  generally  sustained  me  in  this 
matter. 

The  Houston  Telegraph  said:  "The  same  reasons  which  in- 
duced the  Russians  to  burn  Moscow  to  prevent  its  occupation  by 
the  French  might  apply  with  equal  force  to  the  case  of  Galveston, 
but  we  hope  not." 

Replying,  on  December  24th,  to  General  Hebert's  letter  of  the 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  351 


17th,  I  took  occasion  again  to  say :  "It  is  my  earnest  desire  to 
co-operate  with  you  in  the  most  efficient  and  speedy  mode  to  con- 
centrate troops  under  your  orders,  so  that  an  adequate  force  may 
be  thrown  in  the  face  of  the  enemy  and  his  assaults  beaten  back, 
no  matter  in  what  quarter  made."  I  approved  his  reprobation 
of  the  irregular  way  in  which  troops  had  been  raised  in  Texas 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  authorities  in  the  State.  I  re- 
quested him  to  subject  to  his  orders  the  regiments  of  Colonels 
Locke  and  Maxey,  believing  that  they  might  be  more  profitable 
on  the  coast  than  on  Eed  River,  their  prospective  winter  quar- 
ters. 

I  also  made  the  best  argument  in  my  power  to  induce  him  to 
take  into  service,  for  immediate  use,  six  months  men.  General 
Hebert  had  already  announced  his  policy  of  not  accepting  any 
more  commands  except  for  the  war.  But  about  the  time  he 
wrote  me  he  authorized  Col.  H.  E.  McCulloch  to  receive,  for 
special  service  on  the  Rio  Grande,  troops  for  twelve  months  first, 
and  later  for  six  months.  This  had  the  desired  effect,  and  the 
Rio  Grande  district  soon  had  sufficient  troops  to  hold  it  against 
any  apprehended  attack  in  that  quarter.  I  closed  with  these 
words :  "I  entertain  the  hope,  sir,  that  when  we  succeed  in  or- 
ganizing the  State  troops  under  the  late  law,  enlistments  will 
go  on  with  alacrity  and  rapidity  for  the  terms  the  exigencies  of 
the  service  may  demand;  for  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Texan 
people  will  so  far  forget  themselves  as  to  wait  to  be  drafted." 

I  vetoed  a  bill  making  an  appropriation  for  the  mileage  and 
per  diem  of  the  members  and  officers  of  the  Ninth  Legislature. 
It,  among  other  provisions,  authorized  for  that  purpose  the  use 
of  various  special  funds  in  the  treasury.  It  was  also  provided  in 
the  bill,  that  for  any  balance  that  might  be  due  the  members  and 
officers  after  exhausting  the  funds  in  the  treasury,  the  Comp- 
troller should  draw  his  warrants  upon  the  county  tax  collectors 
in  their  favor  for  such  amounts.  Upon  reading  the  bill  over 
rapidly,  I  was  struck  with  astonishment  that  the  Legislature 
should  appropriate  to  their  mileage  and  per  diem  these  special 
funds.49  In  addition  to  that  they  asked  for  warrants  on  the 

49  The  amounts  of  these  moneys  then  in  the  treasury  were  $2183.01 
from  escheats,  $159.54  from  estates,  university  fund  $1517.90,  common 
school  fund  $4520.10,  a  total  of  $8380.45,  all  in  specie. 


352  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


collectors  for  any  balance  that  might  be  due  them,  which  meant 
that  they  were  to  receive  gold  and  silver,  while  the  other  em- 
ployes of  the  government,  and  the  debts  of  the  State,  were  being 
paid  in  depreciated  currency. 

Impressed  with  the  injustice  of  the  measure,  and  believing  as 
I  did  that  it  would  have  a  discouraging  effect  upon  the  people 
generally,  without  stopping  to  consult  with  my  Secretary  of 
State  or  other  friends,  I  vetoed  the  bill  at  once.  Upon  its  re- 
turn it  was  received  with  storms  of  indignation,  members  charg- 
ing the  Governor  with  unwarranted  attacks  on  the  Legislature 
and  unjust  reflections  upon  their  patriotism.  A  few  of  the 
members  went  so  far  as  to  say  to  me  that  the  sentiments  expressed 
in  my  veto  message  were  demagogical.  I  replied  to  them  that  I 
was  actuated  in  vetoing  the  bill  by  no  other  motives  than  justice 
and  patriotism;  that,  however,  had  I  been  seeking  for  an  op- 
portunity to  strike  the  chord  of  popular  favor  and  gain  the  ap- 
proval of  the  masses,  they  had  most  certainly  furnished  the  op- 
portunity, and  that  I  would  venture  to  say  that  no  one  outside 
of  those  directly  interested  in  the  bill,  and  who  voted  for  it, 
would  justify  their  action.  The  vote  in  the  House  was  52  to 
24  against  the  veto.  The  necessary  two-thirds  required  to 
override  it  were  not  secured  in  the  Senate,  however,  the  vote  in 
that  body  being  16  for  and  10  against  sustaining  the  veto,  and 
the  bill  consequently  failed  to  become  a  law. 

A  very  remarkable  and,  it  is  believed,  unprecedented  action 
was  then  taken  by  the  Legislature.  A  joint  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  report  upon  the  veto  message,  although  it  had  just 
been  sustained  by  legislative  action.  The  movers  for  the  ap- 
pointment of  this  committee  claimed  that  the  message  reflected 
so  severely  on  those  voting  for  the  bill  that  it  was  necessary  to 
make  an  explanation  in  that  way  to  their  constituents  and  the 
country.  The  committee  made  a  majority  and  minority  report. 
The  majority  report  stated  that  the  bill  was  sanctioned  by  estab- 
lished precedent  ;50  that  former  administrations  had  used  such 
funds,  and  that  there  was  nothing  in  it  to  call  forth  such  a  veto; 
in  fact,  that  tin;  amount  involved  was  "small  game  for  such 
heavy  artillery." 

•° Governor  Houston's  administration. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  853 


The  very  able  minority  report  declared  that  the  veto  was  jus- 
tifiable and  proper;  that  it  was  the  prerogative  of  the  executive 
to  exercise  the  veto  power  whenever,  in  his  judgment,  it  became 
necessary  to  bring  it  into  requisition  to  stay  improper  or  hasty 
legislation,  and  that  the  Legislature  had  sustained  the  veto,  and 
that  action  should  have  closed  the  incident.  The  reports  can 
be  found  set  out  in  full  in  the  Senate  Journal  of  the  regular  ses- 
sion of  the  Ninth  Legislature. 

The  following  gentlemen  signed  the  minority  report  in  favor 
of  sustaining  the  veto :  Geo.  B.  Erath,  of  the  Senate,  and  Geo. 

D.  Manion  and  Frank  E.  Williams,  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Capt.  Geo.  B.  Erath  signed  the  minority 
report.  He  was  well  known  to  all  Texans  as  one  of  the  most  pa- 
triotic of  men;  a  San  Jacinto  veteran,  distinguished  as  a  gal- 
lant soldier ;  a  pioneer  of  great  energy  and  determination ;  a  suc- 
cessful Indian  fighter  and  ranger,  and  from  long  experience  and 
great  intelligence  a  safe  and  conservative  legislator.  The  other 
signers,  Geo.  D.  Manion  and  Frank  E.  Williams,  were  young 
men  of  strong  and  widely  recognized  intellectual  force.  Frank 

E.  Williams,  who  wrote  the  report,  was  from  Rusk,  Cherokee 
County,  and  was  one  of  the  ablest  men  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives. 

The  following  passages  from  the  veto  message  give  its  salient 
points : 

"The  second  section  [of  the  bill. — ED.]  provides  that  for  the 
payment  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  and  the  officers  of 
both  houses  the  Treasurer  may  use  any  funds  in  the  treasury  be- 
longing either  to  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  University  lands, 
the  settlement  of  the  successions  of  deceased  persons,  escheated 
property,  or  the  sinking  funds  on  railroad  bonds;  provided, 
however,  that  whenever  any  of  such  funds  shall  be  used  the 
Treasurer  shall  replace  the  amount  so  used  with  bonds  of  the 
State  for  like  amount,  and  that  each  member  shall  receive  his 
fair  proportion  of  such  funds.  .  . 

"If  this  act  should  become  a  law  all  the  present  available  funds 
in  the  State  treasury,  of  every  description,  will  at  once  pass  from 
the  vaults  of  the  treasury  into  the  hands  of  the  beneficiaries  un- 
der the  act. 
23 


354  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"While  I  believe  that  the  State  should  pay,  to  the  utmost  of 
its  ability,  all  its  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  yet  in  the  pres- 
ent critical  condition  of  our  beloved  State  and  Confederacy,  I 
confess  I  would  witness  with  feelings  of  the  deepest  sorrow  the 
last  dollar  drawn  from  the  treasury  unless  to  furnish  arms,  am- 
munition, and  clothing  to  her  gallant  sons,  who  are  now  so 
proudly  vindicating  the  fame  of  the  Texas  soldier. 

"The  moneys  arising  from  the  sale  of  University  lands  were 
intended  for  a  wise  and  beneficent  object,  and  I  greatly  doubt  the 
wisdom  of  disposing  of  them  for  the  purpose  indicated  in  the  act 
under  consideration,  or  for  any  like  purpose. 

"The  funds  arising  from  the  settlement  of  the  successions  of 
deceased  persons  and  escheated  property  belong  in  all  probability 
to  minors  and  orphans  who  have  no  legal  protection  or  guardians 
to  demand  these  in  their  names.  I  am  further  informed  by  the 
Treasurer,  in  the  statement  herewith  submitted,  that  he  has  un- 
official information  that  a  large  portion,  if  not  all,  of  the  last 
named  funds  will  probably  be  shortly  demanded  by  their  right- 
ful owners. 

"There  is  still  more  grave  and  serious  objection  to  the  pro- 
posed appropriation  of  the  sinking  fund  on  railroad  bonds." 

[The  message  goes  on  to  show  that  by  former  legislation  the 
sinking  fund  paid  into  the  treasury  by  the  railroad  companies 
had  been,  by  the  consent  of  the  roads,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
passed  to  the  credit  of  the  school  fund  "as  will  be  found  in  the 
Comptroller's  communication  on  this  subject." — ED.] 

"  .  .  .  At  a  time  when  every  energy  of  the  State  should 
be  husbanded  for  defense  we  should  carefully  guard  against 
draining  the  treasury  (to  meet  the  ordinary  expenses  of  legisla- 
tion) of  special  funds,  protected  by  constitutional  provision  or 
held  in  trust  subject  to  the  use  of  others.  The  time  may  speedily 
come  when  solf-prosorvation  will  demand  that  every  resource  of 
the  State  be  put  into  requisition  for  the  defense  of  our  liber- 
ties and  hoarth-sionos;  but  surely  the  appropriation  of  these 
funds  can  be  justified  only  by  the  grave  necessity  of  employing 
them  in  defending  and  preserving  the  lives  and  liberties  of  the 
people.  . 

"Futhermoro,  the  proviso  to  the  second  section,  which  was 
no  doubt  intended  to  furnish  a  substitute  for  the  funds  so  with- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  355 


drawn,  appears  to  be  wholly  inadequate  to  the  attainment  of  the 
object  desired.  It  provides  that  the  funds  so  withdrawn  shall 
be  replaced  by  the  Treasurer  with  State  bonds  for  a  like  amount. 
From  whence  are  all  these  State  bonds  to  be  obtained?  By 
whom  and  when,  and  how  issued?  How  signed  and  counter- 
signed? When  and  to  whom  payable?  What  rate  of  interest, 
if  any,  are  they  to  bear?  And  how  is  such  interest  to  be  paid? 
On  all  these  points  the  act  is  silent.  It  would  be  well  before  dis- 
turbing these  funds  to  provide  in  the  clearest  and  most  unmis- 
takable terms  for  their  return  to  the  treasury  within  a  short 
and  given  period  of  time." 

This  was  my  only  veto,  and  the  momentary  irritation  arising 
from  it  was  soon  allayed,  a  large  proportion  of  the  men  who  op- 
posed the  measure  soon  coming  to  acknowledge  its  propriety,  and 
my  relations  with  the  Legislature  during  the  remainder  of  my 
term, — so  busy  and  so  full  of  suggestions  and  actions, — was  of 
the  most  pleasant  and  harmonious  character,  the  legislative  and 
executive  branches  of  the  government  working  in  complete  uni- 
son for  the  good  of  the  country. 

In  addition  to  the  discharge  of  the  routine  duties  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's office  I,  without  delay,  bent  my  energies  to  the  formula- 
tion and  adoption  of  measures  to  prevent  the  invasion  of  the 
country  by  the  enemy,  to  provide  material,  supplies,  and  arms 
for  the  defense  of  the  State  and  of  the  Confederacy,  and  to  prop- 
erly care  for  the  families  of  our  soldiers  battling  at  the  front. 

From  the  time  of  the  secession  convention  our  citizens  began 
volunteering,  and  the  organization  of  regiments  throughout  the 
Giate  was  actively  going  on.  Texas  had  now  about  20,000  men 
in  arms,  as  before  stated.  Already  Texans  were  doing  faithful 
duty  in  the  Confederate  army  hundreds  of  miles  beyond  the  bor- 
ders of  the  State, — Hood,  Wigf all,  and  Archer  were  in  Virginia ; 
Terry,  Tom  Lubbock,  and  Gregg  in  Kentucky;  Baylor  in  Ari- 
zona; Greer  and  Locke  in  Missouri,  and  Ben  McCulloch  in  the 
Indian  Territory. 

Camps  of  instruction  had  been  established  at  various  points  in 
the  State,  where  men  were  mustered  in,  equipped,  and  drilled  for 
service.  My  first  work  was  to  push  on  to  completion  organiza- 
tions that  were  forming,  and  then  to  raise  additional  regiments. 
The  State  troops  were  transferred  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIKS. 


Confederate  service,  as  the  sooner  this  could  be  done  the  less 
would  be  the  expense  to  the  State. 

Such  gallant  frontiersmen  as  Hays,  Walker,  Burleson,  Ford, 
McCulloch,  Eoss,  and  Baylor  had -in  time  past  made  famous  the 
Texas  Hangers  and  demonstrated  their  superiority  over  the 
United  States  regulars  for  frontier  service,  and  men  of  this  class 
were  now  in  special  demand. 

Baylor  and  Ford,  sent  out  by  the  convention  with  a  regiment 
to  the  Mexican  border,  were  rendering  a  good  account  of  them- 
selves. The  first  had  already  conquered  Arizona,  and  the  second 
held  by  a  tight  grip  the  lower  Rio  Grande. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  357 


CHAPTER  TWENTY. 

The  Frontier  Regiment — Militia  Organization  —  Message  on  United 
States  Bonds  —  The  Military  Board  — Letter  to  Me  from  Secretary 
Benjamin  —  Exchange  of  United  States  Bonds  for  Confederate  States 
Bonds  —  Opinions  of  Wigfall,  Hemphill,  Waul,  and  Reagan  —  My  Re- 
ply to  Secretary  Benjamin  —  The  Board's  Circular  Address  —  Arsenal, 
Cap  and  Cartridge  Factory  at  Austin — War  Legislation  —  Colonel 
Baylor,  Conquerer  of  Arizona — President  Davis  on  Retaliation — The 
Twin  Sisters  —  Attitudeof  Texas  in  the  War — Mason  and  Slidell — 
Confederate  Disasters — Coast  Army  Ordered  to  Arkansas. 

President  Davis  had  at  an  early  day  authorized  the  raising  of 
a  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen  for  the  protection  of  our  Indian 
frontier.  The  time  of  service  of  this  fine  regiment,  commanded 
by  Col.  Henry  E.  McCulloch,  was  almost  ready  to  expire,  when 
the  settlements  would  be  left  exposed  to  Indian  forays.  To  meet 
this  pressing  emergency  a  law  was  enacted  on  December  21st 
calling  into  the  State  service  for  the  special  protection  of  our  In- 
dian frontier  an  organization  known  afterwards  as  the  "Frontier 
regiment,"  but  subject  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Con- 
federate States  army.  These  troops  were  to  be  stationed  outside 
of  the  settlements  at  posts  about  twenty-five  miles  apart,  as 
nearly  as  practicable,  on  a  direct  line  from  a  point  on  Eed  River, 
in  Montague  County,  to  a  point  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  thence 
down  said  river  to  its  mouth. 

Our  representatives  in  Congress  were  directed  to  urge  the  ac- 
ceptance of  this  regiment  by  the  Confederate  government,  with 
the  understanding,  however,  that  it  was  to  be  under  the  direction 
of  the  State  authorities,  and  not  to  leave  the  limits  of  Texas, 
and  the  men  were  to  be.  disbanded  by  the  Governor  "whenever, 
in  his  judgment,  their  services  shall  no  longer  be  necessary  for 
frontier  protection." 

It  fell  upon  me  also  to  appoint  an  adjutant  and  inspector- 
general  for  the  State,  and  for  each  congressional  district  one 
aide-de-camp  for  my  staff.  I  was  authorized  to  order  a  draft 
from  the  enrolled  militia  should  a  sufficiency  of  volunteers  fail 
to  respond  to  my  call  for  troops. 

The  frontier  regiment  was  well  officered  by  men  of  large  fron- 


358  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tier  experience,  good  Indian  fighters,  and  brave  soldiers.  The 
first  officers  were :  James  N.  Norris,  of  Coryell  County,  colonel  ;52 
A.  T.  Obenchain,  of  Parker,  lieutenant-colonel;  James  E.  Mc- 
Cord,  of  Hays,  major.  After  Obenchain  was  killed,  McCord  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant-colonel,  and  J.  B.  Barry,  of  Bosque 
County  (known  as  "Buck"  Barry),  appointed  major.  Barry 
was  quite  distinguished  as  an  experienced  frontiersman  and  In- 
dian fighter. 

The  entire  organization  was  made  up  of  men  already  living 
in  the  counties  to  be  protected,  the  law  prohibiting  the  enlistment 
of  men  from  other  localities.  The  intention  was  to  have  only 
hardy,  brave  men,  who  would  be  directly  interested  in  giving 
good  protection  to  their  own  homes,  and  also  to  keep  those  who 
wished  to  avoid  Confederate  service  from  moving  to  that  part 
of  the  country. 

In  a  message  to  the  Legislature  in  reference  to  the  important 
matter  of  proper  militia  organization,  I  said:  "In  case  of  in- 
vasion by  the  enemy  the  militia  is  our  chief  reliance  for  defense, 
but  organization  is  badly  needed.  The  inefficiency  of  the  present 
militia  law  being  now  demonstrated,  our  necessities  require  a 
new  and  more  efficient  law  for  the  complete  organization  of  the 
military  force  of  Texas.  A  law  simple  in  form  and  easy  of  exe- 
cution is  demanded,  under  which  every  able-bodied  man  in  the 
State  liable  to  military  duty  shall  be  enrolled,  disciplined,  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  good  and  efficient  officers.  All 
able-bodied  men  in  the  State  between  the  ages  of  17  and  50 
should  be  subjected  to  military  duty  with  certain  exemptions." 

Referring  to  another  important  matter  I  said :  "I  would  call 
the  attention  of  your  honorable  body  to  the  exposed  condition  of 
the  gulf  coast  and  the  imperative  need  for  heavy  guns  in  that 
quarter,  and  this  without  any  lack  of  confidence  in  the  Con- 
federate States  government  to  do  everything  in  its  power  for 
our  defense.  But  we  may  have  to  depend  upon  such  ordnance 
as  we  have  or  are  able  to  manufacture  within  this  State.  There 
are  artisans  among  us  who  understand  the  manufacture  of  can- 

••  Among  other  names  considered  for  the  appointment  was  that  of 
Dr.  R.  M.  Gano,  member  from  Tarrant.  This  gentleman  afterwards 
became  distinguished  as  a  cavalry  officer  under  General  John  H.  Mor- 
gan, and  finally  attained  a  brigadier-general's  rank. 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  359 


non  and  muskets.  Their  services  should  be  utilized,  if  possible. 
There  is  iron  in  Eastern  Texas  well  adapted  to  the  purpose,  and 
steps  should  be  taken  at  once  to  effect  the  manufacture  of  arms, 
either  through  contract  with  private  parties,  or  by  means  of  a 
State  foundry." 

Responding  to  the  first  of  these  recommendations,  the  Legis- 
lature enacted  a  law  to  perfect  the  organization  of  the  State 
troops  and  place  them  on  a  war  footing.  It  was  approved  by  me 
on  Christmas  day,  1861.  This  act  was  comprehensive  and  elab- 
orate in  detail.  It  began  by  making  liable  to  military  duty  all 
the  white  male  inhabitants  between  the  ages  of  18  and  50  years, 
with  these  exceptions :  "Postmasters  and  mail  carriers,  ferrymen 
on  public  roads,  judges  of  the  Supreme  and  District  Courts, 
and  clerks  of  said  courts,  Secretary  of  State,  Comptroller  and 
Treasurer  of  the  State,  chief  justices  and  clerks  of  the  county 
courts,  all  officers  of  the  Confederate  States,  engineers  and  con- 
ductors on  railroads,  officers  and  crews  of  steamboats,  sheriffs, 
and  officers  of  the  penitentiary." 

The  State  was  divided  into  thirty-three  districts,  each  to  be 
commanded  by  a  brigadier-general.  The  following  is  an  approx- 
imately correct,  though  not  official,  list  of  those  who  were  elected 
and  served  as  brigadier-generals  under  this  arrangement :  Thos. 
B.  Howard.  Geo.  W.  Van  Vleck,  F.  B.  Sublett,  Drury  Field,  Sam 
Henderson,  F.  A.  Harris,  W.  P.  Saufly,  G.  H.  Wooten,  Alex 
Smith,  D.  B.  Martin,  W.  M.  Taylor,  S.  M.  Flournoy,  W.  H. 
Hoard,  A.  E.  Pace,  H.  F.  Young,  W.  J.  Kyle,  Thos.  M.  Blake, 
W.  B.  Middleton,  Henry  Jones,  Nat  Terry,  William  Hudson, 
Wm.  G.  Webb,  John  Sayles,  D.  E.  Grassland,  S.  B.  Conley,  N. 
G.  Shelley,  H.  P.  Hale,  John  Scofield,  W.  W.  Dunlap,  W.  B. 
Knox,  Eobert  Becham,  H.  Clay  Davis,  and  J.  Magoffin. 

In  answering,  January  3,  1862,  a  letter  from  Col.  James  I. 
Cook  relative  to  the  military  situation  on  the  coast,  I  said : 

"I  appreciate  fully  the  critical  condition  of  our  State  should 
the  enemy  determine  upon  an  invasion  of  our  soil.  Recognizing 
fully  the  necessity  of  State  action  in  my  inaugural,  as  also  in 
my  message,  I  urged  upon  the  Legislature  that  every  means 
should  be  adopted  by  them  to  put  the  State  in  a  proper  position 
of  defense  from  the  seacoast  to  the  mountains.  I  have  time  and 
again  urged  upon  individual  members  of  the  Legislature  the  im- 


3«0  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


perative  necessity  of  using  forthwith  all  available  means  in  the 
treasury  for  the  purchase  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war,  and  to 
place  all  the  resources  and  securities  held  by  the  State  either  in 
the  hands  of  the  executive  or  some  other  agent,  that  they  might 
be  used  in  carrying  on  the  war  in  which  we  are  engaged.  Up  to 
this  time  I  am  very  sorry  to  say  that,  although  many  proposi- 
tions have  been  introduced  in  the  Legislature,  no  measures  look- 
ing to  the  great  necessity  of  self-defense  have  passed  and  become 
the  law  of  the  land. 

"The  suggestions  you  make  are  true.  They  are  well  worthy 
of  the  prompt  attention  of  the  Legislature.  I  have  already  read 
your  communication  to  several  members  pointing  out  the  feasi- 
bility of  the  plan  you  propose,  and  have  urged  upon  them  early 
action  in  the  premises.  I  fear  many  of  our  legislators  do  not 
rise  up  to  the  important  struggle  we  are  engaged  in,  and  are 
timidly  hesitating  to  involve  the  State  in  an  indebtedness  that 
must  follow  the  placing  of  the  State  on  a  proper  war  footing. 

"Notwithstanding  the  importance  of  immediately  placing  the 
State  on  a  war  footing  to  resist  impending  evils,  I  am  wholly 
powerless  to  move  in  any  direction  to  accomplish  this  desirable 
object  unless  the  Legislature  shall  in  its  wisdom  clothe  me  with 
authority  to  do  so. 

"I  shall  be  pleased  at  all  times  to  receive  any  suggestions  you 
may  be  pleased  to  make,  with  the  assurance  that  I  will  bestow 
upon  them  due  consideration,  for  I  can  truly  say  to  you  that  the 
utmost  of  my  desire  is  to  protect  the  State  and  the  people  from 
invasion." 

A  few  days  after  penning  the  above  I  sent  the  following  mes- 
sage to  the  Legislature: 

"1  am  this  morning  in  receipt  of  important  intelligence  of 
great  vital  interest  to  the  State  of  Texas  as  well  as  to  the  Con- 
federate States,  and  forthwith  lay  it  before  yoii  for  your  action, 
knowing  that  your  patriotism  will  move  you  to  wise  conclusions. 

"I  herewith  enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  received  by  me  this 
morning  from  the  Hon.  J.  P.  Benjamin,  Secretary  of  War  of 
the  Confederate  States,  by  which  it  will  be  seen  he  proposes  to 
substitute  for  any  amount  of  United  States  5  per  cent  bonds  in 
possession  of  the  State  of  Texas  which  can  be  used  in  the  pur- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  361 


chase  of  arms  and  ammunition,  Confederate  States  bonds  bear- 
ing 8  per  cent  interest. 

"I  am  also  in  receipt  of  letters  from  our  members  in  the  Pro- 
visional Congress,  L.  T.  Wigfall,  John  Hemphill,  and  T.  N. 
Waul,  which  letters  I  herewith  transmit  you,  all  urging  upon  me 
the  acceptance  of  the  proposition  made  by  the  Secretary  of  War. 

"I  am  also  informed  by  Mr.  Giddings,  who  conveyed  to  me 
these  papers,  that  our  other  members  present  at  Richmond  also 
favor  the  exchange,  and  that  their  letters  may  be  daily  ex- 
pected. 

"It  appears  to  me  that  the  arrangement  proposed  would  be 
a  most  advantageous  one  for  the  State,  and  the  parties  directly 
interested  in  the  United  States  bonds  now  in  the  treasury  greatly 
benefited  by  the  exchange.  The  best  we  can  hope  for  would  be 
the  assumption  of  the  payment  of  the  United  States  bonds  by 
the  Confederate  States  at  a  very  remote  period  after  the  present 
war  terminates. 

"Should  the  United  States,  after  the  declaration  of  peace, 
agree  to  pay  her  bonds  now  in  the  treasury  of  this  State,  at  what 
time  can  or  will  it  be  done?  My  own  opinion  is  that  that  gov- 
ernment will  be  so  totally  and  wholly  bankrupted  by  the  present 
war  that  she  will  never  be  in  a  condition  to  pay  these  bonds,  no 
matter  how  great  her  willingness  may  be.  Therefore,  in  a  finan- 
cial point  of  view,  it  is  very  clear  to  my  mind  that  the  interest  of 
the  State,  the  school  fund,  and  the  parties  who  expect  to  be  bene- 
fited by  the  use  of  these  bonds,  would  all  be  greatly  advanced  by 
the  proposed  exchange. 

"Other  considerations  of  a  patriotic  character  rise  higher  than 
all  pecuniary  interest,  and  appeal  loudly  and  strongly  for  the 
State  of  Texas  to  take  some  action  in  the  direction  indicated. 

"Our  country  is  engaged,  as  I  have  ofttimes  repeated,  in  a 
just,  holy,  and  important  struggle.  What  we  most  require  in 
order  to  enable  us  to  bring  this  war  to  a  speedy  and  successful 
termination  is  the  proper  arming  of  our  people  and  obtaining 
the  necessary  munitions  of  war.  We  have  now  an  opportunity 
of  contributing  largely  to  that  end  without  injury  to  ourselves, 
and  without  the  creation  of  any  additional  State  debt ;  and  I 
trust,  gentlemen,  you  will  meet  the  crisis,  come  to  the  support 
of  the  Confederate  government,  and  by  your  action  on  this  sub- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ject  inflict  a  heavy  blow  upon  our  enemies,  and  sustain  the  pa- 
triotism and  devotion  of  the  State  of  Texas  to  the  great  cause 
in  which  we  are  all  embarked. 

"I  also  transmit  a  letter  on  the  same  subject  from  Hon.  Jno. 
H.  Iteagan." 

Two  days  later  I  approved  a  bill  entitled  "An  Act  to  provide 
funds  for  military  purposes." 

The  first  section  of  this  law  created  a  Military  Board,  consist- 
ing of  myself,  the  Comptroller,  and  the  Treasurer,  and  by  the 
other  sections  we  were  empowered  "to  provide  for  the  defense  of 
the  State  by  using  any  United  States  bonds  in  the  treasury,"  ex- 
press authority  being  given  us  to  substitute  them  in  equal 
amounts  for  bonds  of  the  Confederate  States. 

On  the  same  day,  January  11,  1862,  I  approved  another  bill 
on  the  same  line  entitled  "An  Act  to  provide  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  for  the  manufacture  of  arms  and  ordnance  for  the 
military  defense  of  the  State."  Under  this  law  (for  the  purposes 
above  named)  was  appropriated  the  sum  of  $500,000  of  the 
bonds  authorized  to  be  issued  by  the  Act  of  April  8,  1861. 

The  Military  Board  was  authorized  to  dispose  of  said  bonds 
in  any  manner  it  might  see  proper  and  find  necessary  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  objects  enumerated  in  the  law  conferring 
this  power. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  various  enactments  enumerated  the 
board  was  given  a  wide  margin  of  discretion.  We  might  sell 
bonds  straight  out  and  then  buy  arms  and  ammunition,  or  barter 
the  bonds  directly  for  arms  and  ammunition,  or  for  anything 
else  contemplated  by  law.  We  were  also  invested  with  power  to 
appoint  one  or  more  agents  to  negotiate  bonds,  purchase  arms 
and  ammunition,  or  superintend  the  manufacture  of  arms  and 
ordnance,  and  to  allow  them  reasonable  compensation  for  their 
gervice.8.  We  might  further,  if  we  deemed  such  action  advisable, 
establish  a  foundry  for  the  manufacture  of  ordnance,  and  one 
or  more  manufactories  of  small  arms  at  convenient  places  in  the 
State.  The  act  conferring  the  last  mentioned  authority  went 
into  effect  immediately  on  its  passage  and  carried  with  it  an  ap- 
propriation of  $500,000  to  carry  out  its  provisions. 

By  an  act  entitled  "An  Act  to  appropriate  funds  for  military 
purposes"  (approved  January  14,  1862),  $1,000,000  were  appro- 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


priated  for  military  purposes,  as  follows:  "For  the  support, 
comfort,  and  efficiency  of  the  State  troops,  if  called  into  active 
service;  for  the  purchase  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  of  all 
kinds  that  may  be  necessary  and  proper;  for  the  manufacture 
of  such  arms  and  munitions,  and  the  purchase  in  any  market 
of  materials  therefor;  for  procuring  necessary  armories,  and 
other  places  for  storing  military  property;  for  preservation, 
care,  and  use  of  such  property;  for  stationary  works  of  defense, 
nautical  vessels,  and  instruments,  if  needed;  for  the  necessary 
maintenance  of  troops  along  the  interior  frontier  under  the  law 
for  its  defense,  and  for  all  necessary  and  proper  incidents  of  the 
foregoing  military  purposes." 

For  the  purposes  above  enumerated  Confederate  money  and 
specie  (except  that  coming  in  from  specific  taxes  and  special 
school  funds)  might  be  used;  provided,  first,  $25,000  in  specie 
should  be  set  aside  for  the  asylums  in  Austin;  $300  for  pay- 
ment of  postage  for  the  executive  and  other  departments,  and 
$1200  for  obtaining  blanks  for  treasury  warrants. 

Even  at  this  early  period  of  the  war  paper  money,  whether 
State  or  Confederate,  was  circulated  at  a  considerable  discount, 
and  certain  articles  could  be  had  only  for  specie  or  hard  money — 
gold  or  silver. 

The  foregoing  acts  creating  the  Military  Board  with  ample 
powers,  and  providing  a  fund  for  the  military  defense  of  the 
State,  was  the  kind  of  desirable  legislation  hinted  at  in  my  letter 
to  Colonel  Cooke. 

The  board  organized  at  Austin,  January  13,  1862,  and  at  once 
entered  upon  its  official  career.  I  was  chairman.  My  private 
secretary,  W.  M.  Walton,  temporarily  acted  as  secretary,  and  was 
allowed  extra  compensation  therefor.  My  associates,  Comp- 
troller C.  E.  Johns  and  Treasurer  C.  H.  Eandolph,  were  men  of 
sterling  worth,  great  energy,  and  excellent  business  capacity,  and 
we  worked  together  with  complete  unanimity  as  to  personal  and 
political  sentiments,  ideas  as  to  what  should  be  done,  and  the 
means  to  be  employed  in  carrying  into  effect  the  plans  we  de- 
termined upon. 

At  this  first  meeting  of  the  board  I  laid  before  it  the  papers 
I  had  submitted  to  the  Legislature,  to  wit,  the  letter  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  to  me,  and  the  endorsement  of  the  same  by  our  lead- 


364  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ing  statesmen  at  Kichmond.  Below  appears  Mr.  Benjamin's 
letter  in  full,  and  only  such  parts  of  the  others  as  are  relevant 
to  the  subject: 

"CONFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA,  \ 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  v 

"KICHMOND,  2d  December,  1861.        j 

"Sir :  The  ordnance  bureau  of  this  department  has  employed 
Mr.  G.  H.  Giddings,  of  your  State,  as  its  agent  for  the  purchase 
of  arms.  Mr.  Giddings  has  made  arrangements  for  such  pur- 
chases in  Matamoros,  payment  to  be  made  in  the  United  States 
bonds  now  held  by  your  State  which  as  he  thinks  can  be  used  for 
that  purpose,  if  you  consent. 

"The  object  of  this  letter  is  to  inform  you  that  if  you  will 
make  use  of  the  United  States  bonds  in  your  possession  in  the 
purchase  of  arms  to  be  approved  by  Mr.  Giddings,  at  prices  sat- 
isfactory to  him,  this  government  will  receive  the  arms  from 
you  at  cost  and  charges,  and  pay  for  them  in  its  own  8  per  cent 
bonds. 

"By  this  arrangement  you  will  succeed  in  exchanging  your 
United  States  bonds,  now  useless  and  bearing  only  6  per  cent, 
for  the  bonds  of  the  Confederate  States  bearing  interest  at  8 
per  cent,  and  receive  the  interest  regularly  and  punctually. 

"I  hope  your  excellency  may  deem  it  consistent  with  your 
sense  of  public  duty  to  make  an  arrangement  which  seems  to  be 
recommended  by  so  many  advantages. 

I  am,  y'r  ob't  serv't, 

"J.  P.  BENJAMIN, 

"Secretary  of  War. 
"His  Excellency  Francis  Lubbock,  Governor  of  Texas." 

In  reference  to  the  above  proposition,  General  Wigfall  thus 
wrote  me  from  the  headquarters  of  the  Texas  brigade  at  Dum- 
fries, Va.,  December  9,  1861 : 

"Dear  Governor:  ...  I  have  no  hesitation  in  advising 
that  you  accept  the  proposition.  The  United  States  bonds  must, 
of  course,  at  the  end  of  the  war  be  recognized  by  the  United 
States  government ;  but  will  that  government  ever  be  able  to 
pay  them?  I  think  not.  It  will  come  out  of  this  war  utterly 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  365 


and  hopelessly  bankrupt,  whereas  the  bonds  of  the  Confederate 
States  are  amply  secured,  and  must  be  at  all  times  at  par,  if  not 
above." 

Confederate  States  Senator  Hon.  John  Hemphill,  in  his  letter 
to  me,  said : 

"I  cordially  recommend  you  to  accept  the  proposition.  .  .  . 
The  State,  so  far  from  making  any  sacrifice,  will  exchange  bonds 
which  are  now,  and  will  probably  always  be,  worthless  to  her  for 
stock  now  at  par,  and  whose  value  will  be  commensurate  and  co- 
existent with  the  government  itself." 

Congressman  T.  N.  Waul,  from  Richmond,  under  date  of  De- 
cember 14,  1861,  advised  me  thus : 

"Mr.  Benjamin's  letter  meets  with  my  cordial  approval,  and  I 
hope  it  will  meet  your  approbation.  The  investment  is  a  good 
one  under  any  circumstances." 

Postmaster-General  Jno.  H.  Reagan,  under  date  of  December 
14,  1861,  wrote  me  as  follows: 

"It  is  understood  that  arms  can  be  purchased  with  the  United 
States  bonds  as  cash.  Our  State  can  not  at  this  time  realize 
either  principal  or  interest  on  the  United  States  bonds.  And 
their  payment  may  be  repudiated  by  that  government  if  they 
remain  the  property  of  the  State ;  and  I  recommend  to  your  fa- 
vorable consideration  the  proposition  to  exchange  them  for  Con- 
federate bonds. 

"On  the  subject  of  the  manner  of  making  the  substitution,  I 
have  only  to  say  that  if  it  can  be  done  it  would  seem  best  for 
the  State  to  make  the  exchange  of  the  bonds,  and  allow  the  Con- 
federate States  government  to  take  the  responsibility  of  its  own 
transactions  in  the  purchases  to  be  made  with  the  United  States 
bonds." 

After  due  consideration  of  the  above  letters  we  delivered  on 
January  13,  1862,  to  G.  H.  Giddings53  one  hundred  United  States 
bonds  of  $1000  each,  bearing  5  per  cent  interest,  and  Mr.  Gid- 
dings receipted  us  therefor,  "With  the  positive  understanding/' 
says  his  receipt,  "that  the  War  Department  will  recognize  my  au- 

58  Under  date  01  December  12,  1861,  Secretary  Benjamin  instructed 
G.  H.  Giddings,  his  agent  in  Texas,  "to  buy  cotton  with  Confederate 
treasury  notes,  to  ship  to  and  sell  the  cotton  at  Matamoros,  and  with  the 
proceeds  purchase  and  pay  for  arms  at  that  port." 


36G  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


thority,  and  pay  over  to  the  Military  Board  aforesaid  bonds  of 
the  Confederate  States  for  a  like  amount  and  bearing  8  per  cent 
interest." 

To  meet  any  possible  contingency  the  following  was  added  to 
the  receipt  the  same  day  and  duly  signed  by  Mr.  Giddings: 

"Now,  it  is  expressly  understood  that  should  the  war  depart- 
ment fail  or  refuse  to  recognize  my  authority,  or  to  pay  over  the 
bonds  as  stipulated,  then  I  agree  and  bind  myself,  within  ninety 
days  from  the  date  of  this  instrument,  to  pay  to  the  said  Military 
Board  the  amount  of  said  bonds  in  Confederate  treasury  notes, 
Confederate  8  per  cent  bonds,  or  in  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
at  the  price  agreed  upon  in  my  contract  with  the  Confederate 
government  or  the  return  of  the  identical  bonds  delivered  to  me." 

On  the  same  day,  at  the  suggestion  of  G.  H.  Giddings,  we  ap- 
pointed his  brother,  J.  D.  Giddings,  as  bearer  of  dispatches  to 
Richmond,  and  instructed  him  to  press  forward  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  The  most  important  of  these  was  a  letter  from  me  to 
Mr.  Benjamin.  It  was  (omitting  formal  address  and  conclusion) 
as  follows: 

"Sir:  Your  highly  esteemed  favor  of  the  2d  of  December, 
1861,  was  received  by  me  on  the  9th  inst.  through  Mr.  G.  H.  Gid- 
dings. Immediately  on  its  receipt,  the  executive  having  no  con- 
trol over  the  securities  alluded,  to  in  your  communication,  I  sub- 
mitted the  matters  to  the  Legislature,  then  in  session. 

"The  Legislature  very  promptly  passed  an  act  to  meet  the 
emergency  (approved  on  the  llth  of  January,  1862),  a  copy  of 
which  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  to  you.  The  act  is  not  as 
clear  as  it  might  have  been,  I  presume  from  the  fact  that  it  was 
deemed  best  not  to  make  known  the  particular  character  of  the 
securities  sought  to  be  disposed  of. 

"You  will  perceive  that  by  the  act  a  Military  Board  is  created, 
composed  of  the  Governor,  Comptroller,  and  Treasurer,  any  two 
of  whom  may  act,  etc. 

"You  will  also  see  that  the  act  contemplates  that  for  any  of 
the  bonds  disposed  of  (meaning  tho  United  States  bonds)  a  like 
amount  of  Confederate  bonds  shall  be  placed  in  the  State  treas- 
ury to  the  credit  of  the  funds  to  which  these  bonds  properly  be- 
long, viz.,  the  school  fund. 

"Upon  an  examination  this  morning  of  your  letter  to  the  ex- 


LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS.  367 


ecutive,  before  referred  to,  the  board  was  doubtful  as  to  the  au- 
thority of  Mr.  Giddings  1o  receipt  us  for  the  bonds  as  the  agent 
of  the  government;  but,  from  our  knowledge  of  Mr.  Giddings, 
and  the  many  evidences  he  has  with  him  of  the  confidence  re- 
posed in  him  by  the  War  Department,  together  with  the  fact  that 
he  is  now  expecting  valuable  arrivals  at  Matamoros,  at  his  solici- 
tation we  have  placed  in  his  hands  (as  per  receipt,  a  copy  of 
which  please  find  enclosed)  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  the 
United  States  bonds,  which  we  trust  will  meet  your  approbation. 

"The  board  would  prefer,  as  Mr.  Giddings  is  the  agent  of  the 
government,  to  place  in  his  hands  the  United  States  bonds  that 
can  be  negotiated,  giving  the  Confederate  States  government  the 
entire  control  of  them.  In  return,  we  expect  to  receive  the  Con- 
federate bonds  bearing  8  per  cent  interest,  with,  of  course,  the 
understanding  that,  should  you  fail  to  use  any  portion  of  the 
bonds,  then  and  in  that  case  the  bonds  so  undisposed  of  will  be 
received  back  by  the  State  of  Texas. 

"These  bonds  belong  to  our  school  fund,  and  are  held  very 
sacred  by  our  laws,  as  well  as  by  the  people.  Nothing  but  a  mili- 
tary necessity  would  induce  them  to  divert  them  from  that  fund. 

"Deeming  this  matter  of  great  importance,  we  have  dispatched 
Mr.  J.  D.  Giddings,  one  of  our  most  reliable  citizens,  to  Rich- 
mond, that  he  might  interview  you  on  this  subject. 

"We  trust  that  you  will  accept  our  proposals  and  that  you  will 
return  by  Mr.  J.  D.  Giddings  such  acceptance,  or  that  you  will 
send  to  Mr.  George  H.  Giddings  full  authority  to  execute  to  us 
the  necessary  receipts.  We  sincerely  hope  that,  in  the  exchange 
of  these  funds,  much  benefit  may  be  derived  by  the  Confederate 
States,  and  that,  by  their  use,  arms,  ammunition,  etc.,  may  be 
purchased,  that  will  materially  aid  in  driving  from  our  soil  the 
base  and  foul  invaders." 

In  reply,  Mr.  Benjamin  informed  the  board  that  he  possessed 
no  authority  to  make  such  an  exchange,  but  that  he  would  pur- 
chase of  the  State  any  arms  and  munitions  of  war  that  were  pro- 
cured by  Mr.  Giddings  for  these  bonds. 

Mr.  Giddings  was  allowed  ninety  days  to  endeavor  to  nego- 
tiate the  bonds.  The  Secretary  of  War  having,  however,  notified 
the  board  that  he  could  not  ratify  the  agreement  we  had  entered 
into  with  Mr.  Giddings,  we  extended  the  time  granted  the  latter 


368  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


gentleman.  Mr.  Giddings  attempted  in  various  quarters  to  ne- 
gotiate the  bonds,  but  without  success,  and  finally  returned  them 
to  the  board  and  they  were  placed  back  in  the  treasury. 

In  a  "Circular  Address"  to  the  people  of  the  State,  the  board 
made  a  strong  appeal  to  their  patriotism,  invoking  their  hearty 
co-operation  in  all  of  the  measures  taken  by  it  to  provide  for  the 
defense  of  the  country.  Recognizing  the  fact  that  cotton  was 
king,  at  least  to  the  extent  of  furnishing  the  sinews  of  war,  we 
announced  in  the  address  that  large  purchases  of  cotton  were 
desirable,  and  for  that  purpose  we  offered  in  payment  8  per 
cent  loan  bonds  of  the  State,  calling  for  semi-annual  payments  of 
interest  in  specie.  These  bonds  were  in  denominations  of  one 
thousand  dollars  each,  with  coupons  attached.  The  address  con- 
cluded as  follows: 

"The  Legislature  has  done  all  it  could  have  done  for  the  de- 
fense of  the  State.  The  duty  has  been  imposed  on  us  to  so  ap- 
propriate the  securities  placed  in  our  hands  as  to  insure  the 
defense  of  the  State  and  the  certain  protection  of  the  lives  and 
liberties  of  the  people.  We  are  confident  that  our  appeal  will 
not  be  in  vain;  we  do  not  doubt  that  you  will  rally  to  the  call 
of  your  State ;  we  can  not  believe  that  you  will  fail  to  afford  the 
means  to  repel  and  chastise  the  insolent  foe  should  he  attempt  to 
desecrate  the  soil  of  Texas  with  his  polluting  tread.  .  .  . 
Then,  freemen  of  Texas !  your  State  demands  your  aid,  not  only 
for  your  own  defense  and  protection,  but  for  the  welfare  of  gen- 
erations yet  unborn  and  the  security  of  civil  and  religious  lib- 
erty. Act,  that  you  may  remain  free  men !" 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  conferred  by  law  on  the  board,  we 
next  proceeded  to  send  agents  abroad  to  negotiate  some  of  our 
United  States  bonds  for  munitions  of  war,  the  one  thing  needful 
for  the  achievement  of  our  independence.  Other  agents  were 
appointed  to  purchase  cotton  with  the  loan  bonds  of  the  State, 
the  cotton  to  be  forwarded  to  and  sold  in  Mexico,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds used  in  the  purchase  of  various  articles  of  prime  necessity 
and  to  establish  factories  for  the  manufacture  of  arms  and  other 
needed  supplies  by  the  State. 

Among  other  of  our  acts,  we  established  an  arsenal  of  con- 
stmction  at  Austin.  It  was  situated  in  the  southeastern  portion 
of  the  city,  at  the  mouth  of  Waller  Creek.  The  following  were 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


placed  in  charge  of  the  works :  William  Carson,  superintendent ; 
Prof.  Rossler,  chief  draughtsman ;  James  Brown,  foreman  of  the 
wood  department;  E.  Perry  and  E.  A.  Miller,  foremen  of  the 
turning  and  finishing  departments ;  Thomas  Randolph,  foreman 
of  the  foundry,  and  Joseph  Marstella,  foreman  of  the  blacksmith 
shop.  The  plant  was  speedily  put  in  successful  operation  and 
turned  out  a  few  first-class  brass  cannon  that  afterwards 
performed  effective  service  for  the  Confederacy.  The  copper 
from  which  they  were  cast  was  brought  from  Mexico.  The  pieces 
were  finished  complete,  thoroughly  tested  with  double  charges 
of  powder  and  solid  four-pound  shot,  and  in  workmanship,  ap- 
pearance, and  excellence  would  compare  favorably  with  any 
turned  out  by  any  cannon  factory. 

We  also  established  a  cap  and  cartridge  factory  at  Austin, 
utilizing  the  Supreme  Court  building  for  that  purpose.  This 
building  stood  back  of  the  capitol.  Emil  Durhea,  an  experienced 
chemist,  was  placed  in  charge  as  superintendent.  All  the  ma- 
chinery employed  was  made  here  at  home.  For  instance,  the  two 
hat-cap  machines  (each  with  a  capacity  of  250  caps  a  minute) 
were  built  for  us  by  E.  Perry,  assisted  by  R.  A.  Miller,  and  the 
rest  by  these  gentlemen  and  others. 

It  was  also  a  part  of  our  policy  to  make  advances  in  cash  and 
cotton  to  private  individuals,  in  order  that  they  might  be  enabled 
to  establish  needed  industries.  On  this  line  of  work  the  board 
was  almost  in  continuous  session  until  the  succeeding  meeting 
of  the  Legislature,  when  the  results  were  reported.  My  attend- 
ance was  frequently  interrupted  by  executive  duties  calling  me 
elsewhere;  but  the  board  did  no  work  in  the  meantime  which  I 
did  not  heartily  endorse. 

Besides  the  act  creating  the  Military  Board  and  the  others  that 
have  been  enumerated,  the  same  session  passed  various  other 
laws  partaking  of  the  character  of  war  legislation,  among  which 
may  be  mentioned  acts  to  provide  for  the  disposition  of  certain 
property  belonging  to  the  enemy  then  in  the  hands  of  the  adju- 
tant-general ;  to  provide  for  the  construction  of  an  efficient  war 
marine,  etc. ;  to  suspend  all  laws  for  the  collection  of  debts ;  to  le- 
galize actions  of  various  county  courts  in  issuing  bonds  for  mill1 
tary  purposes ;  one  providing  for  the  pay  of  the  State  troops  un- 
der the  command  of  Col.  John  S.  Ford  on  the  Rio  Grande ;  to  au- 
24 


370  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


thorize  the  county  courts  to  levy  and  collect  a  special  tax  for  war 
purposes;  to  appropriate  money  to  defray  all  expenses  necessary 
to  secure  and  transport  clothing,  etc.,  to  the  Texas  volunteers ;  to 
pay  commissioners  sent  by  the  convention  to  the  Choctaws,  Chero- 
kees,  and  other  friendly  tribes  of  Indians,  and  to  Arizona  and 
New  Mexico ;  to  create  a  hospital  fund  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  of  Texas  in  the  Confederate  army;  to  au- 
thorize the  receipt  of  treasury  warrants  and  Confederate  notes 
for  all  dues  and  taxes,  except  the  special  specie  taxes  levied  for 
the  payment  of  interest  and  principal  of  loans,  and  interest  on 
school  fund  loaned  to  certain  railroads ;  and  to  define  and  punish 
sedition.  Sedition,  under  the  law,  was  declared  to  consist  in 
maliciously  and  advisedly  discouraging  enlistments  in  the  Con- 
federate army,  or  in  disposing  the  people  to  favor  the  enemy.  It 
was  made  punishable  by  confinement  in  the  penitentiary  for  a 
term  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five  years. 

Among  the  private  acts  to  aid  in  prosecuting  the  war  were  the 
following:  To  incorporate  and  confer  special  privileges  upon 
the  Texas  Lead  Mine  Company,  organized  for  the  manufacture 
of  lead;  to  incorporate  the  Fort  Bend  Manufacturing  Company 
(capital  stock  not  to  exceed  $200,000),  for  the  manufacture  of 
all  fabrics  made  in  whole  or  in  part  of  wool,  cotton,  silk,  hemp, 
or  flax,  and  also  articles  made  of  wood,  iron,  and  steel  (a  wide 
range  of  business,  truly)  ;  to  relieve  certain  railroads  of  paying 
interest  on  borrowed  school  fund  until  six  months  after  the  end 
of  the  war ;  to  amend  the  act  incorporating  the  Southern  Cotton 
Press  and  Manufacturing  Company  (capital  stock  not  to  exceed 
$1,000,000),  a  corporation  empowered  by  law  to  receive,  store, 
warehouse,  repair,  compress,  and  rebale  cotton,  and  to  manufac- 
ture cotton  rope,  etc. ;  to  incorporate  the  Texas  Powder  Com- 
pany (capital  stock,  $20,000),  and  directing  the  Land  Commis- 
sioner to  issue  to  said  powder  company  six  land  certificates  of 
640  acres  each,  to  be  located  on  any  part  of  the  public  domain 
from  which  could  be  procured  the  necessary  ingredients  for  gun- 
powder (James  R.  Sweet,  James  Duff,  Sam  R.  Maverick,  Alex 
Young,  and  Francis  Giraud  were  the  incorporators)  ;  to  incor- 
porate the  Texas  Manufacturing  Company  (capital  stock  not  to 
exceed  $2.50,000),  and  to  authorize  it  to  locate  its  plant  or  plants 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  371 


anywhere  in  the  State,  and  there  engage  in  the  manufacture  of 
cotton  and  woolen  goods,  and  any  other  fabrics,  for  home  use. 

These  incorporated  enterprises  indicated  clearly  the  trend  of 
the  public  mind  at  that  day;  but  several  of  them,  on  account  of 
the  insuperable  difficulties  in  the  way,  never  materialized. 

Besides  those  mentioned,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  author- 
izing the  Governor  to  appoint  agents  to  receive  and  forward  blan- 
kets, clothing,  and  other  articles  to  the  soldiers  of  Texas.  The 
agents  were  to  obtain  these  much  needed  supplies  by  voluntary 
subscriptions  from  individuals  and  deliver  them  to  the  soldiers 
according  to  the  wishes  of  the  donors. 

Having  afterwards  learned  that  articles  so  secured  for  our 
troops  in  the  field  were  scattered  all  along  the  line,  from  Nib- 
lett's  Bluff,  on  the  Trinity,  to  Virginia,  I  called  the  attention  of 
the  Legislature  to  that  fact  by  message,  with  suggestions  of  need- 
ful legislation.  This  resulted  in  the  prompt  enactment  of  a  law 
appropriating  $5000  to  defray  all  expenses  necessary  to  the  secur- 
ing and  transportation  of  "all  clothing'  or  other  contributions  to 
Texas  volunteers,  now  or  hereafter  detained  on  the  route,  to  their 
destination." 

At  the  same  session  joint  resolutions  were  passed  memorializ- 
ing Congress  (in  view  of  the  circumstances  enumerated)  to  sus- 
pend the  custom-houses  on  the  Eio  Grande ;  to  pay  the  per  diem 
and  mileage  of  the  presidential  electors  for  the  election  in  1861, 
in  which  Jefferson  Davis  was  elected  president  of  the  Confederate 
States;  commending  Col.  John  K.  Baylor  and  his  men  for  the 
conquest  of  Arizona ;  and  endorsing  the  stand  taken  by  President 
Davis  in  the  Savannah  incident.  The  following  is  the  text  of  the 
latter  resolution :  "Eesolved,  that  we  highly  approve  of  the 
promptness  with  which  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States 
has  made  preparation  to  retaliate,  in  the  event  that  the  Lincoln 
government  should  execute,  as  pirates,  any  or  all  of  the  crew  of 
the  privateer  Savannah ;  and  we  express  the  decided  opinion  that 
retaliation  should  be  strictly  and  vigorously  practiced  by  our 
government  in  all  such  cases." 

In  their  letter  to  me  of  December  27,  1861,  the  Texas  delega- 
tion in  Congress  say  that,  on  presenting  this  resolution  to  Presi- 
dent Davis,  "the  president,  in  very  apt  and  graceful  terms,  ac- 


372  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


knowledged  his  obligations  to  the  government  of  the  State  of 
Texas  for  their  endorsement  of  his  action  in  the  premises." 

Another  joint  resolution  was  the  following,  relative  to  the 
"Twin  Sisters"  cannon,  which,  after  they  had  been  given  to  the 
United  States  government,  had  been  at  Baton  Rouge: 

"Whereas,  the  State  of  Louisiana  having  caused  to  be  placed 
in  order  and  delivered  to  the  State  of  Texas  the  two  guns  known 
in  the  history  of  Texas  as  the  'Twin  Sisters/  as  a  token  of  friend- 
ship towards  this  State,  and  desiring  to  return  our  acknowledg- 
ment of  such  a  gift  and  to  express  our  friendship  and  kind  feel- 
ings towards  our  sister  State: 

"Section  1.  Be  it  resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Texas,  that  we  receive  the  valuable  and  useful  gift  to  Texas,  and 
acknowledge  our  obligations  to  our  sister  State  for  the  friendship 
and  generosity  so  manifested  by  the  donation  of  'the  guns  that 
are  so  famous  in  the  history  of  Texas. 

"Sec.  2.  Be  it  further  resolved,  that  we  assure  our  sister  State 
that  it  is  our  desire  to  cultivate  and  perpetuate  the  friendly  rela- 
tions that  now  exist  between  this  State  and  the  State  of  Louis- 
iana, and,  should  an  occasion  occur  in  which  it  will  become  nec- 
essary for  Texas  to  use  the  'Twin  Sisters'  in  defense  of  the  rights 
of  Louisiana,  Texas,  or  any  other  State  in  the  Confederacy,  and 
to  repel  the  invasion  of  a  despot,  the  sons  of  Texas  will  be  found 
ready  to  man  them  and  to  remain  by  them  until  the  invaders  of 
our  common  country  shall  be  driven  from  our  soil. 

"Sec.  3.  Be  it  further  resolved,  that  the  Governor  of  the  State 
of  Texas  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  requested  to  cause  a  copy  of  these 
resolutions  to  be  transmitted  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Louisiana."  (Approved  January  13,  1862.) 

The  guns  came  in  due  time  and  were  deposited  at  Austin. 
Maj.  A.  G.  Dickinson,  commanding  the  post  at  San  Antonio,  on 
November  30,  18G3,  wrote  Maj.  S.  T.  Fontaine,  chief  of  artillery 
and  ordnance  for  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  and  Texas :  "The  'Twin 
Sisters,'  T  am  informed  are  at  or  in  a  camp  in  the  vicinity  of 
Austin.  They  are  in  a  deplorable  condition,  and  I  am  fearful 
could  not  be  used,''  and,  continuing,  referred  him  to  Col.  John  S. 
Ford  for  further  information.  This  is  the  last  official  mention 
of  these  guns,  says  the  compiler  of  "Records  of  the  Rebellion," 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  373 


published  by  the  United  States  government  since  the  war.  The 
subsequent  fate  and  present  whereabouts  of  these  guns  (if  they 
are  still  in  existence)  is  unknown. 

This  Legislature,  among  its  other  acts,  issued  a  solemn  decla- 
ration to  the  world,  defining  the  attitude  assumed  by  Texas  in 
the  war :  Among  other  asseverations  in  this  document  were  the 
following:  "The  people  of  Texas  do  hereby  assure  her  sister 
Confederate  States  and  the  world  that  she  stands  ready  with 
heart  and  hand  to  resist  our  invaders  until  the  last  soldier  is 
driven  from  our  borders  and  until  we  shall  conquer  an  honor- 
able and  glorious  peace.  .  .  .  That  the  proximate  cause  of  the 
dissolution  of  the  Union  was  that  the  North  had  the  power  and 
had  avowed  the  determination  to  deprive  the  South  of  social  and 
political  equality.  .  .  .  That  we  have  unlimited  confidence  in 
the  wisdom  of  our  President,  the  skill  of  our  generals,  the  cour- 
age of  our  soldiers,  and  in  the  final  and  glorious  triumph  of  our 
cause." 

I  sent,  as  requested  by  joint  resolution,  a  copy  of  this  declara- 
tion to  each  of  our  representatives  in  Congress,  and  to  the  Gov- 
ernor of  each  of  the  Confederate  States,  with  a  request  that  they 
be  laid  before  their  respective  Legislatures.  The  confidence  an- 
nounced in  the  final  issue  of  events  may  be  considered  as  a  fair 
expression  of  the  public  sentiment  of  that  day. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislature  I  was  quite  broken 
down.  My  physician,  Dr.  J.  M.  Steiner,  advised  that  plenty  of 
horseback  exercise  would  soon  bring  me  back  to  my  usual  fine 
health.  Acting  upon  his  advice,  my  horse  was  at  the  gate 
every  morning  soon  after  daylight,  unless  it  was  raining,  and  I 
mounted  and  galloped  from  four  to  six  miles.  For  years  of  my 
life  I  had  been  accustomed  to  ride  from  five  to  thirty  miles — 
sometimes  fifty  miles — a  day,  and  my  constitution  demanded  the 
exercise. 

I  was  often  cautioned  and  advised  by  prominent  men  and  good 
friends  that,  in  taking  my  long  rides  alone  and  in  going  to  and 
returning  from  my  office  at  night,  I  ran  considerable  risk  of  as- 
sassination, because  of  a  lawless  element  and  some  few  persons 
who  were  hostile  to  me  in  consequence  of  my  enforcement  of  the 
laws,  and  particularly  of  my  determined  course  regarding  enlist- 


374  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ments  in  the  service.  I,  however,  fearlessly  discharged  my  duty 
and  was  never  molested.64. 

Returning  from  my  morning  rides  by  the  postoffice,  it  was  my 
custom  to  get  my  letters,  make  the  proper  indorsements  upon 
reaching  home  upon  them,  and  as  soon  as  breakfast  was  over 
go  to  my  office  prepared  for  the  day's  work. 

My  rides  and  the  bracing  morning  air  soon  restored  me  to  my 
accustomed  robust  health,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  days' 
confinement  from  rheumatic  fever,  I  enjoyed  good  health  during 
my  entire  term  of  office  as  Governor. 

In  November,  1861,  occurred  the  Mason  and  Slidell  affair, 
which  pointed  to  a  rupture  between  England  and  the  North. 
Captain  Wilkes,  of  the  Federal  steamer  San  Jacinto,  brought  to 
with  a  cannon-shot  the  British  mail  steamer  Trent  on  the  high 
seas,  in  the  West  India  waters,  and  took  forcibly  from  her  decks 
Messrs.  Mason  and  Slidell,  Confederate  commissioners  to  Euro- 
pean powers.  The  Northern  masses  received  the  news  with  the 
wildest  delight,  expecting  a  first-class  hanging  of  traitors.  There 
was  still  more  joy,  if  possible,  in  the  South,  for  we  expected  a 
war  between  England  and  the  United  States,  which  would  have 
insured  our  speedy  independence.  In  the  British  Isles  the  intel- 
ligence of  the  insult  to  their  flag  aroused  a  burst  of  indignant 
feeling,  and  her  majesty's  government  was  not  slow  to  demand 
satisfaction.  Meanwhile,  the  Lincoln  government55  had  rati- 
fied and  approved  of  Captain  Wilkes'  conduct,  so  far  as  the  Navy 
Department  and  the  House  of  Representatives  were  concerned. 
The  British  demand  was  the  liberation  of  our  envoys  and  a  suit- 
able apology  to  her  majesty's  government,  with  only  seven  days 
for  a  compliance. 

B4  After  the  war  was  over,  now  and  then  some  fellow  would  ask  an 
explanation  of  why  I  treated  him  roughly  on  some  stated  occasion.  I 
was  generally  able  to  satisfy  him  that  there  was  no  intention  of  doing 
him  a  personal  wrong;  that  I  was  working  for  the  general  good;  and  if 
he  was  hard  to  satisfy  I  just  left  him  to  do  his  complaining  with  the  re- 
mark: "Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  about  it?"  That  generally 
settled  the  matter.  At  any  rate  I  was  never  injured  in  any  way  by 
such  malcontents. 

56  General  Waul  wrote  me,  December  28,  1861,  on  the  Mason  and  Sli- 
dell affair:  "If  England  does  not  compromise  the  matter  the  United 
States  will  back  squarely  down." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  375 


The  growl  of  the  British  lion  produced  such  trepidation  in 
Yankeedom  that  the  anticipated  pleasure  of  hanging  traitors 
vanished  at  once.  Mr.  Seward  released  the  prisoners  with  al- 
most indecent  haste,  and  made  a  most  abject  apology  for  the 
outrage.  British  moderation  under  the  circumstances  was  won- 
derful, if  not  commendable. 

Near  the  close  of  1861  it  seemed  as  if  peace  and  independence 
were  close  at  hand,  but  in  a  short  time  the  prospects  began  to 
darken. 

The  capture  of  Roanoke  Island  was  soon  followed  by  the  more 
serious  disaster  at  Fort  Donelson,  which  opened  a  way  for  the 
enemy  to  advance  on  Nashville.  The  Confederate  authorities 
made  herculean  efforts  to  arrest  the  further  progress  of  the  en- 
emy southward.  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  gathering  a 
large  army  for  a  decisive  battle  in  Tennessee.  The  Secretary  of 
War,  under  date  of  February  24th,  sent  an  order  to  General  He- 
bert,  in  which  he  said:  "Our  recent  disaster  in  Tennessee  has 
greatly  exposed  our  line  of  communication  with  the  West,  and 
the  importance  of  this  line  is  so  great  that  it  must  be  held  at  any 
sacrifice.  You  are  therefore  instructed  at  once  to  send  forward 
to  Little  Rock,  there  to  report  to  Ma j. -Gen.  Earl  Van  Dorn,  all 
the  troops  in  your  command  for  the  defense  of  the  coast,  except 
such  as  are  necessary  to  man  your  batteries.  No  invasion  is 
deemed  probable,  but  if  any  occurs,  its  effects  must  be  hazarded, 
and  our  entire  forces  must  be  thrown  toward  the  Mississippi  for 
the  defense  of  that  river  and  of  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Rail- 
road." 

This  order  did  not  apply  to  the  troops  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

Slowly  and  with  apparent  reluctance,  General  Hebert  pro- 
ceeded, in  compliance  with  Secretary  Benjamin's  order,  to  for- 
ward his  troops  to  Arkansas.  Failing  to  comprehend  the  mili- 
tary necessities  of  the  Confederacy  at  large,  the  general  felt  mor- 
tified at  the  diversion  of  his  best  troops  from  the  coast,  and  wrote 
me,  in  a  letter  dated  San  Antonio,  August  28th : 

"When,  nearly  a  year  since,  I  assumed  command  of  this  de- 
partment, I  immediately  set  to  work  to  place  it  in  a  defensive 
position.  This,  I  think,  I  was  in  a  fair  way  of  accomplishing 
when  my  best  troops  were  ordered  away.  Our  reverses  at  the 
time  were  no  doubt  a  military  justification  of  the  orders  issued, 


376  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


yet  the  effect  has  been  to  paralyze  my  efforts  and  strip  me  of 
means  of  defense.  .  .  .  Tired  of  remaining  here  and  filling 
the  position  of  general  recruiting  officer  for  other  commands 
and  departments,  I  have  applied  to  Major-General  Holmes,  com- 
manding the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  to  be  assigned,  in 
the  coming  campaign,  to  the  command  of  the  Texas  regiments 
raised  by  me,  now  in  Arkansas,  and  whose  commanding  officers 
desire  to  be  under  me,  from  written  and  verbal  communications. 
.  .  .  In  the  meantime,  I  will  stand  at  my  post  and  do  all  I 
can  to  defend  this  department.  Should  the  enemy  land  or  in- 
vade from  any  quarter,  he  shall  be  fought  in  some  way,  and  with 
success  if  we  can  only  get  him  into  the  interior."  6G 

General  Hebert's  complaints  were  unreasonable.  Had  he  used 
his  troops,  or  proposed  to  use  them  to  any  effective  purpose  while 
he  had  them,  I  could  have  better  sympathized  with  him.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  he  did  not  propose  to  fight  for  Galveston 
when  threatened  with  attack  in  November  and  December,  1861. 


5  •  Hebert  had  already  been  superseded  in  the  command  of  Texas, 
and  was  only  awaiting  the  arrival  of  his  successor. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  377 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-ONE. 

Arrival  of  Col.  Tom  Lubbock's  Remains  at  Houston — Funeral  Obse- 
quies—  Dearth  of  Arms — General  McLeod  —  Memorial  Services  at 
Galveston  —  General  Houston  —  Col.  O.  M.  Roberts  at  Camp  Lub- 
bock  —  Austin  Ladies  Meet  and  Adopt  Resolutions  of  Sympathy  for 
Their  Sisters  in  New  Orleans  —  Blockaders  Off  Aransas  and  Velasco  — 
Galveston  Threatened  —  Flags  of  Truce  —  Martial  Law  —  General  He- 
bert  Preparing  to  Evacuate  Galveston  —  Conference  of  Governors  at 
Marshall;  Its  Work  and  Results. 

It  had  been  my  melancholy  duty  to  announce  to  the  Legisla- 
ture the  deaths  of  Senator  John  Hemphill  at  Richmond,  and  of 
Colonel  Terry,  of  the  Texas  Rangers  (Eighth  Cavalry)  at  Mum- 
fordville,  Ky.,  and  next  came  the  distressing  intelligence  of  the 
death  of  my  beloved  brother,  T.  S.  Lubbock,  Terry's  successor  in 
command  of  the  rangers. 

"Quill,"  the  Austin  correspondent  of  the  Telegraph,  had  this 
to  say  on  the  sad  event :  "The  news  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Lub- 
bock reaching  Austin  this  morning,  January  23,  1862,  it  casts 
a  gloom  over  the  entire  community  and  wrings  the  heart  of  the 
Governor  almost  to  bursting.  His  bosom  friend  Terry  has  but 
been  just  laid  in  the  grave,  and  now  the  manly,  heroic  brother 
has  yielded  up  his  life.  These  brave  men  have  fought  the  good 
fight, — they  have  done  all  that  man  can  do,  given  up  their  lives 
in  defense  of  the  country.  No  mortal  can  do  more.  Their  mem- 
ories will  live  green  in  the  heart  of  every  son  of  the  South.  May 
God  in  His  mercy  deal  gently  with  their  loved  ones  on  earth." 

I  immediately  set  out  for  Houston,  where  I  met  the  remains. 
They  were  brought  to  that  city  from  New  Orleans,  and  were 
escorted  from  the  depot  by  Capt.  D.  M.  McGregor's  company  of 
home  guards,  followed  by  his  excellency  F.  R.  Lubbock,  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  as  chief  mourner,  and  a  large  concourse  of  cit- 
izens in  carriages  and  on  horseback,  the  cortege  moving  forward 
to  the  sound  of  solemn  music.  The  eyes  of  many  an  onlooker 
were  wet  with  tears  as  the  body  passed  up  the  street  to  Academy 
Square. 

Colonel  Moore,  as  marshal,  led  the  procession  up  Main  Street. 
After  religious  services  at  Academy  Square  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 


378  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Wagner,  rector  of  Christ  (Episcopal)  Church,  Hon.  P.  W.  Gray 
delivered  a  eulogy  eminently  fitting  the  occasion  and  the  man. 
The  orator  was  at  times  almost  too  much  affected  to  proceed. 
Indeed,  all  were  affected,  for  all  felt  that  they  were  engaged  in 
the  celebration  of  the  last  sad  rites  connected  with  the  interment 
of  the  mortal  form  of  a  friend  and  true-hearted  man,  who  had 
yielded  up  his  life  at  the  post  of  duty. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  eulogy  the  procession  formed  in  the 
following  order:  Home  Guard,  as  a  military  guard  of  honor; 
Holland  Lodge,  No.  1,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. ;  the  body ;  horse  of  the 
deceased,  led  by  his  body  servant;  mourners;  Colonel  Moore's 
regiment  as  military  escort;  officiating  clergyman  and  orator; 
members  of  the  clergy,  judiciary,  bar,  and  medical  faculty ;  may- 
ors and  aldermen  of  Houston  and  Galveston ;  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows ;  General  Hebert  and  staff,  detachments  of  vari- 
ous regiments  and  battalions  of  the  Department  of  Texas;  Col- 
onel Parson's  regiment  of  cavalry  bringing  up  the  rear ;  the  whole 
proceeding  to  the  Masonic  Cemetery,  where  the  body  of  Colonel 
Lubbock  was  laid  to  rest  with  befitting  civic  and  military  honors. 

A  few  days  later  the  bodies  of  Senator  John  Hemphill  and 
Gen.  Hugh  McLeod  arrived  by  railway  from  New  Orleans.  They 
were  received  with  distinguished  honors  by  the  military  and  the 
citizens.  After  lying  in  state  in  Turner  Hall  for  a  few  hours 
the  bodies  were  forwarded  to  Austin  for  interment. 

"Quill,"  in  the  Telegraph  of  February  10,  1862,  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  burial  of  the  distinguished  dead  at  Austin : 
"The  bodies  of  Judge  Hemphill  and  General  McLeod  arrived  iu 
Austin  on  last  Friday,  just  at  night.  They  laid  in  state  until 
the  evening  of  Saturday,  when  the  burial  took  place.  Although 
the  day  was  wet  and  cold,  almost  the  whole  population  turned  out 
to  do  honor  to  the  distinguished  dead, — the  true  statesman  and 
the  gallant  and  chivalrous  warrior.  Business  was  suspended; 
military  companies,  judiciary,  bar,  Masonic  fraternity,  all  joined 
in  the  procession.  The  bodies  were  deposited  in  the  State  burial 
ground,  where  lie  the  remains  of  Burleson,  Lipscomb,  Britton, 
and  Walker." 

In  compliance  with  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  on 
February  26th  I  issued  a  call  for  fifteen  regiments  of  infantry, 
stating  in  my  proclamation  that  unless  that  call  was  complied 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  379 


with  and  the  quota  of  Texas  furnished,  a  draft  would  be  resorted 
to.  As  so  many  troops  had  left  the  State  without  reporting  to 
the  Adjutant-General,  it  was  impossible  to  know  exactly  how 
many  regiments  would  be  required  to  fill  the  quota  of  Texas,  and 
the  matter  was  somewhat  delayed  on  that  account. 

Then  the  conscript  act  was  passed,  providing  for  the  enroll- 
ment in  the  Confederate  service  for  three  years,  or  for  the  war, 
"all  white  men  who  are  residents  of  the  Confederate  States,  be- 
tween the  ages  of  eighteen  and  thirty-five  years  at  the  time  the 
call  or  calls  may  be  made,  who  are  not  legally  exempt  from  mili- 
tary service." 

May  7th  I  issued  another  proclamation  reciting  the  above,  and 
concluding  with  this  exhortation: 

"Great  is  the  peril  to  our  beloved  country !  Now  in  this,  her 
day  of  agony  and  trial,  she  looks  to  her  children  to  defend  her. 
Will  you  come  forward  promptly  and  willingly  to  shield  her, 
or  will  you  wait,  Texans,  to  be  dragged  to  the  field  by  a  draft, 
or  a  conscription,  or  the  fear  of  both? 

"Come,  then,  at  once  in  companies,  squads,  or  singly,  to  the 
different  camps  established  in  the  State,  at  Houston,  Hempstead, 
Tyler,  Victoria,  San  Antonio,  Austin,  Bonham,  and  near  Bren- 
ham.  These  camps  are  now  provided  with  the  ordinary  neces- 
saries of  life,  and  men  fighting  for  existence  must  not  expect  to 
be  fed  on  luxuries.  .  .  .  This  is  the  last  opportunity  that 
will  be  given  to  the  citizens  to  choose  their  own  service  and  offi- 
cers. After  this  they  will  be  enrolled  and  placed  at  once  in  the 
Confederate  service." 

A  crisis  was  upon  us,  and  evidently  it  would  require  strong, 
concerted  action  to  stay  the  tide  of  invasion ;  and  I  gave  honest 
warning  to  the  people  that  even  the  oldest  among  those  capable 
of  bearing  arms  might  be  soon  called  out  to  defend  their  homes. 

The  men  responded  rapidly  to  the  demands  of  their  country, 
and  in  a  few  months  the  fifteen  regiments  were  made  up;  but 
the  greatest  difficulty  was  in  getting  arms  and  equipments. 
Various  suggestions  were  made  as  to  some  available  substitute 
for  the  ordinary  weapons  of  the  modern  soldier.  The  lance,  the 
claymore,  and  the  bowieknife  had  each  its  advocates. 

Importations  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  reached  us  occa- 
sionally through  blockade  runners  or  from  across  the  Rio  Grande, 


380  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  some  were  coming  in  from  home  manufactories.  But,  from 
all  these  sources,  the  supply  was  insufficient  to  meet  the  appalling 
demands.  Col.  G.  W.  Carter's  cavalry  regiment  first  thought  of 
arming  with  lances  in  lieu  of  something  better;  and  the  Legis- 
lature provided  for  a  regiment  of  Mexican  lancers  on  our  side  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  but  the  scheme  never  materialized.  The  State 
arms  collected  by  the  chief  justices  of  the  various  counties  were 
of  the  crudest  description  and  almost  worthless  for  a  soldier  hav- 
ing to  fight  against  the  best  armed  troops  in  the  world. 

And  this  lack  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  being  general  over 
the  Confederacy,  it  should  never  be  left  out  of  calculation  in  con- 
sidering the  battles  of  the  civil  war.  Other  things  being  equal, 
the  best  equipped  armies  always  win. 

Believing  that  my  presence  on  the  coast  would  have  a  bene- 
ficial effect,  I  left  the  capital  and  proceeded  to  Galveston,  and 
there,  on  March  1,  1862,  participated  in  memorial  services  in 
honor  of  the  memory  of  the  late  Gen.  Hugh  McLeod.  There  was 
a  fine  display  of  the  military  and  a  large  concourse  of  civilians. 
Hon.  M.  S.  Munson  delivered  a  most  eloquent  eulogy  on  the  vir- 
tues of  the  deceased  patriot.  Then  followed  addresses  by  General 
Hebert  and  myself,  and  a  grand  review  of  the  troops,  about 
3000  strong,  well  disciplined,  and  presenting  quite  a  martial  ap- 
pearance. 

I  made  a  speech  the  next  day  at  the  Tremont,  explaining  the 
true  meaning  of  my  so-called  "burning  letter"  to  General  Hebert, 
and  complimenting  the  authorities  and  citizens  on  their  prepara- 
tions and  the  prospects  for  a  successful  defense  of  the  island. 
Besides  this,  during  my  stay,  I  had  the  honor  of  two  serenades. 
I  went  away  exceedingly  gratified  at  the  improved  state  of  public 
spirit  everywhere  manifest,  and  I  entertained  the  hope  that  the 
Federal  invaders  would  meet  with  a  stout  resistance  on  Galveston 
Island. 

On  my  return  I  stopped  over  at  Houston  and  visited  the  camp 
of  Moore's  regiment,  in  the  vicinity.  There  I  had  the  unexpected 
pleasure  of  meeting  General  Houston.  The  Telegraph  of  the  6th 
gives  the  following  account  of  an  incident  that  occurred  during 
my  visit  to  the  camp : 

"Governor  Lubbock  and  General  Houston  happening  to  be  at 
the  camp  of  Moore's  regiment  last  Saturday  afternoon,  the  Gov- 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  381 


ernor  was  called  upon  for  a  speech.  He  made  a  brief  speech,  in 
his  usual  felicitous  style,  urging  the  soldiers  to  guard  well  the 
honor  of  the  State  and  do  their  duty  manfully  in  the  field. 

"General  Houston  was  then  called  upon  for  an  address.  He 
indorsed  everything  the  Governor  had  said.  He  observed  that 
he  had  differed  with  many  of  them  in  the  beginning  of  the  diffi- 
culties, but  we  were  now  in  for  it,  and  all  his  feelings  and  inter- 
ests were  bound  up  in  the  success  of  our  cause.  He  was  too  infirm 
by  reason  of  his  old  wound  to  go  into  the  campaign  himself ;  but 
he  offered  up  his  only  son  old  enough  to  fight  (Sam  Houston, 
Jr.,  of  Ashbel  Smith's  company,  Moore's  regiment)  to  the  cause 
of  his  country.  He  complimented  the  men  on  their  soldierly  ap- 
pearance and  urged  them  to  fight  bravely  for  their  liberties.  He 
alluded  to  the  atrocities  of  the  enemy,  and  animadverted  in  se- 
vere terms  upon  theii  conduct.  The  general's  speech  was  re- 
ceived with  loud  cheers,  which  fact  must  have  shown  him  that, 
however  much  the  people  may  have  disliked  his  course  at  times, 
he  has  yet,  personally,  a  warm  place  in  their  affections." 

Anticipating  an  invasion  of  the  State,  and  the  Confederate 
government  having  ordered  all  of  the  available  troops  to  leave 
the  coast,  I  deemed  it  advisable  to  organize  a  small  force  to  act 
as  scouts  and  spies  in  the  counties  bordering  on  the  gulf  and 
accessible  streams.  I  authorized  the  brigadier-generals  of  certain 
brigades  to  organize  in  each  of  such  counties  a  company  of 
twenty-five  men,  to  be  sworn  in  for  the  war,  to  furnish  their  own 
horses,  arms,  and  subsistence,  to  be  at  all  times  subject  to  the 
control  of  the  brigadier-generals.  They  were,  when  necessary,  to 
aid  in  driving  the  stock  of  the  citizens  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
enemy,  to  see  that  negroes  and  other  property  of  the  people  did 
not  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  blockaders,  and  generally  to  per- 
form such  duty  as  the  brigadier-generals  might  require  of  them. 
They  were  to  receive  no  pay  from  the  State ;  the  only  immunity 
accorded  them  for  such  service  was  relief  from  any  other  mili- 
tary duty.  I  considered  it  a  good  and  necessary  arrangement 
for  the  State.  After  the  passage  of  the  conscript  act  by  the  Con- 
federate Congress,  April  15,  1862,  and  complaint  having  been 
made  that  these  companies  were  useless  and  should  be  forced  into 
the  army,  I  wrote  a  letter  to  General  Hebert,  in  which  I  said: 
"I  know  that  several  of  them  have  rendered  valuable  service.  The 


382  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Confederate  officers,  with  my  consent,  have  employed  some  of 
these  companies,  as  they  inform  me,  to  great  advantage.  They 
have  at  all  times  been  ready  to  perform  any  service  when  called 
upon  by  Confederate  officers.  In  justice  to  the  men  composing 
this  organization,  I  will  state  that  they  were  sworn  into  service 
long  before  the  passage  of  the  conscript  laws.  It  can  not,  there- 
fore, be  charged  that  they  sought  this  service  to  avoid  conscrip- 
tion." 

Chief  Justice  0.  M.  Koberts,  of  the  Supreme  Court,  had  re- 
signed his  position  on  the  bench  to  enter  the  military  service  of 
the  State.  Colonel  Eoberts  had  been  commissioned  to  raise  a 
regiment  of  infantry,  a  branch  of  the  service  repugnant  to 
Texans,  the  best  horsemen  in  the  world,  and  better  adapted  to 
the  cavalry  arm.  His  headquarters  at  this  time  were  at  Camp 
Lubbock,  a  few  miles  above  Houston,  on  the  bayou.  His  high 
character  and  patriotism  gave  him  phenomenal  success,  and  by 
spring  he  had  raised  twenty-two  companies,  mostly  from  the 
northeastern  counties.  In  response  to  General  Hebert's  inquiry, 
"Can  you  aid  me  at  Galveston  in  an  emergency  ?"  Colonel  Eob- 
erts promptly  replied:  "I  will  come  on  call,  at  once,  with  my 
whole  force."  The  emergency  did  not  arise,  but  doubtless  General 
Hebert  felt  more  comfortable  after  the  reception  of  this  assur- 
ance of  support.  Colonel  Eoberts  broke  camp  in  May,  march- 
ing to  Tyler  with  his  own  regiment  and  five  companies  that  went 
into  Colonel  Hubbard's  regiment. 

The  battle  of  Shiloh  was  a  great  victory  for  our  cause,  but  its 
effect  was  neutralized  in  a  great  measure  by  the  death  of  Gen. 
Albert  Sidney  Johnston  and  the  reverse  that  our  arms  sustained 
the  following  day,  April  7th,  caused  by  the  overwhelming  rein- 
forcements of  the  enemy.  A  few  weeks  later  followed  the  sur- 
render of  New  Orleans,  and  it  seemed  to  many  that  the  Con- 
federacy was  about  to  collapse. 

I  did  not  share  this  feeling,  but  thought  that  success  was 
within  our  grasp,  if  we  would  only  prove  ourselves  worthy  of  in- 
dependence by  heroic  sacrifice. 

These  successive  Confederate  defeats,  unduly  exaggerated  as 
they  were  by  our  enemies,  encouraged  the  expression  of  disloyal 
sentiments  at  Austin  and  elsewhere  which  had  to  be  suppressed 
subsequently  by  the  strong  arm  of  the  military. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  383 


Newspapers  containing  reprints  of  Butler's  infamous  order 
(No.  28),  respecting  the  ladies  of  New  Orleans,  reached  Austin 
about  this  time.  This  order,  had  the  rest  of  his  career  been 
blameless,  instead  of  being  almost  equally  meretricious,  would 
have  justified  the  designation  "Beast"  that  seems  to  be  linked 
inseparably  to  his  name.  A  meeting  of  the  ladies  was  held  at 
once  to  express  sympathy  for  their  sisters  of  New  Orleans.  Suit- 
able resolutions  were  adopted,  and  these  were  forwarded  to 
the  mayor  of  New  Orleans.  Chief  Justice  Wheeler,  Bishop 
Gregg,  and  myself  addressed  the  meeting,  cordially  approving 
the  action  taken,  and  encouraging  the  ladies  in  this  and  every 
good  work  of  tender  sympathy  and  devotion  to  their  country. 

Late  in  February  a  vexatious  little  affair  occurred  near  Camp 
Aransas  on  the  coast.  Unexpectedly  one  afternoon  the  Federals 
appeared  in  that  vicinity  with  two  launches  and  captured  a  sloop 
bound  for  Corpus  Christi,  and  took  from  her  a  quantity  of  medi- 
cines and  other  articles  designed  for  the  government.  Capt.  B. 
F.  Neal,  in  charge  of  the  camp,  ordered  out  his  company,  and, 
pursuing,  exchanged  several  shots  with  the  launches,  and  drove 
them  back  to  the  ships. 

Somewhat  chagrined  at  their  escape,  Captain  Neal  reported: 
"The  enemy  is  becoming  quite  bold  and  daring,  and  will  destroy 
the  commerce  of  these  bays  unless  checked  in  his  buccaneering. 
.  .  .  They  have  the  advantage  of  us,  possessing  better  boats 
and  being  more  accustomed  to  them  than  we  are." 

This  gallant  officer  had  two  six-pounders  but  no  powder,  at 
which  he  bitterly  complained.  This  was  an  illustration  of  our 
disadvantages  in  the  war. 

In  April,  Colonel  Bates,  at  Velasco,  reported  that  a  large 
steamer  anchored  off  San  Luis  Pass  the  day  before,  displaying 
an  English  flag,  a  Confederate  ensign,  and  what  appeared  from 
the  shore  to  be  a  white  flag.  He  said  that  Lieut.  0.  W.  Edwards, 
with  seven  men,  and  Mr.  Alexander  Follett,  a  citizen  in  that 
vicinity,  were  decoyed  aboard  the  vessel  and  held  as  prisoners, 
and  that  when  night  came  on  a  party  of  the  enemy,  in  Edwards' 
boat,  passed  our  battery  on  San  Luis  Island,  and  captured  and 
burned  the  schooner  Columbia  (in  the  rear  of  the  island),  laden 
with  cotton.  "Finally,"  said  he,  "owing  to  disobedience  of  Major 


384  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


Perry's  orders  by  Captain  Ballowe,  the  enemy  escaped  to  their 
ship,  without  loss."  Several  shots  were  then  exchanged  with  the 
Federal  steamer,  but  without  effect.  The  captured  crew  and  pas- 
sengers of  the  Columbia  were  put  ashore,  after  which  the  steamer 
stood  out  to  sea. 

An  attack  on  Galveston  had  been  for  some  time  apprehended, 
and  on  May  14th  Col.  Jos.  J.  Cook,  the  commandant  there,  in- 
dicated (in  special  order  No.  47  to  Lieut.-Col.  Manly,  of  the 
artillery),  a  disposition  to  abandon  the  island  on  the  approach  of 
the  enemy.  This  order  directed  all  comrr\anders  of  batteries  to 
make  every  arrangement  to  spike  the  guns  of  their  batteries,  de- 
stroy the  works  and  gun  carriages  by  fire,  and  fall  back  to  the 
Houston  &  Galveston  Kailroad  depot  in  good  order,  and  there 
await  further  orders. 

The  next  day  the  Federal  schooner  Sam  Houston  made  a 
demonstration,  coming  within  a  mile  of  the  shore,  but,  being  fired 
upon  by  Captain  Schneider's  battery,  quickly  turned  about  and 
drew  off. 

May  17th  Capt.  Henry  Eagle,  of  the  Santee,  commanding  the 
United  States  naval  forces  off  Galveston,  dispatched  the  follow- 
ing, under  a  flag  of  truce,  to  the  military  commandant  of  the 
Confederate  States  forces  at  Galveston:  "Sir:  In  a  few  days 
the  naval  and  land  forces  of  the  United  States  government  will 
appear  off  the  town  of  Galveston  to  enforce  its  surrender.  To 
prevent  the  effusion  of  blood  and  destruction  of  property  which 
would  result  from  the  bombardment  of  your  town,  I  hereby  de- 
mand the  surrender  of  the  place,  with  its  fortifications  and  all 
batteries  in  its  vicinity,  with  all  arms  and  munitions  of  war." 

Colonel  Cook57  immediately  forwarded  the  enemy's  note  to 
General  Hebert,  at  Houston,  for  answer  within  twenty-four 
hours.  General  Hebert  replied  the  same  day  to  Colonel  Cook, 
as  follows:  "Will  send  answer  in  the  morning.  In  the  mean- 
time, prepare  quietly  to  evacuate  in  the  event  of  an  overwhelming 
force  making  its  appearance  to  bombard,  as  threatens;"  and 
that  night  sent  him  the  following  order:  "The  company  at 
Pelican  Spit  should  be  removed  quietly  Spike  the  gun.  Act 
so  that  the  enemy's  attention  will  not  be  called  to  your  move.  Call 

57  Colonel  Cook  and  Captain  Eagle  were  old  friends  and  classmates 
at  college,  and  had  been  together  four  years  at  sea. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  385 


upon  the  president  of  the  railroad.  Let  there  be  no  excitement. 
Let  the  flag  stand  at  spit.  Don't  burn  anything,  for  the  present, 
to  excite  attention  of  the  enemy." 

On  the  19th  Colonel  Cook  thus  addressed  General  Hebert: 
"I  communicated  to  the  commander  of  the  frigate  yesterday  that 
the  proper  time  for  an  answer  to  his  demand  will  be  when  the 
land  and  naval  forces  referred  to  shall  have  arrived,  and  such  an 
answer  will  then  be  given.  This  morning  she  has  up  a  white  flag, 
and  I  have  sent  out  one.  I  am  making  the  preparations  advised, 
as  well  as  I  can." 

Captain  Chubb  was  sent  out  in  the  Eoyal  Yacht  and  met  the 
Federal  flag  of  truce  (coming  in  a  ship's  boat)  midway,  in  full 
view  of  all.  The  flag  was  brought  out  by  a  midshipman  and  a 
smart  crew  of  Yankee  tars.  As  the  boat  came  near,  propelled 
through  the  water  with  lusty  strokes,  the  Federal  sailors  looked 
up,  recognized  Chubb,  and  exclaimed:  "Why,  there's  Captain 
Chubb!"  "Yes,"  replied  the  captain,  "this  is  Captain  Chubb, 
that  was  hung  for  a  pirate,  and  this,"  pointing  to  the  boat,  "is 
the  Eoyal  Yacht  that  was  burned  and  sunk — all  as  good  as  new." 
The  Federal  midshipman  was  helped  aboard  by  the  captain,  but 
was  evidently  much  embarrassed  at  the  sight  of  Chubb  and  the 
Yacht,  both  thought  by  the  Federals,  until  that  time,  to  have 
been  safely  stowed  away  in  Davy  Jones'  locker. 

Later  Colonel  Manly,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  met  a  Federal 
officer  (Lieutenant  Hart),  who  handed  him  his  card  with  great 
formality.  In  reply,  Colonel  Manly,  after  fumbling  in  his 
pockets  a  few  moments,  dryly  remarked :  "We  don't  use  cards  in 
our  service,  and  I  have  not  a  piece  of  paper  large  enough  to  write 
my  name  upon;  so  you  must  allow  me  to  introduce  myself  by 
word  of  mouth,"  which  he  did  with  a  kind  of  mock  gravity. 

The  Yankee  wished  to  return  with  Colonel  Manly  to  Galveston, 
but  he  was  informed  that  this  would  not  be  permitted  except  on 
the  condition  of  his  being  blindfolded.  The  officer,  not  being 
willing  to  submit  to  this  requirement,  went  back  to  his  ship. 

Colonel  Manly  brought  in  only  a  dispatch  from  Captain  Eagle 
to  the  foreign  consuls,  and  nothing  for  Colonel  Cook. 

Captain  Eagle's  note  to  the  consuls  was  dated  May  19th,  and 
contained  the  following : 


25 


386  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"...  This  demand  [for  the  surrender  of  Galveston. — 
ED.]  having  been  refused,  1  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that 
four  days  will  be  allowed  you  from  this  date  in  which  to  remove 
your  families  and  property." 

The  foreign  consuls  asked  that  some  place  of  safety  be  desig- 
nated to  which  they  might  retire  with  their  families,  and  sug- 
gested the  Catholic  convent  in  the  city.  To  this  reasonable  re- 
quest Captain  Eagle  replied :  "It  is  not  in  my  power  to  give  you 
any  assurance  of  security  during  the  bombardment,  for  it  is  im- 
possible to  tell  what  direction  the  shot  and  shell  will  take." 

"There  is  to  be  no  surrender  under  any  circumstances,"  said 
General  Hebert  in  one  of  his  dispatches.  "There  may  be,  how- 
ever, an  abandonment,  in  the  face  of  a  superior  force  (but  noth- 
ing else),  when  it  would  be  folly  to  attempt  resistance." 

I  was  in  Houston  at  this  time,  and,  to  meet  this  emergency,  I 
ordered  General  Howard,  of  the  State  troops,  to  muster  into  im- 
mediate service  every  citizen  subject  to  military  duty,  and  to  co- 
operate with  the  Confederate  States  commanding  officer  at  Gal- 
veston. A  few  hundred  recruits  were  obtained  opportunely  by 
this  order. 

The  laboring  men,  though  offered  large  pay,  refused  to  help 
remove  the  coal  from  Galveston  Island,  whereupon  Colonel  Cooke 
informed  General  Hebert,  and  advised  the  declaration  of  martial 
law  as  the  proper  remedy. 

In  quick  response  was  issued  Order  No.  41,  declaring  martial 
law  in  Galveston  and  the  neighboring  coast  counties. 

This  stringent  measure  had  a  good  effect.  There  was  no  more 
turbulence.  Maj.  J.  C.  Massie,  the  provost  marshal,  called  the 
citizens  together  at  the  courthouse,  explained  the  situation,  and 
stated  that  all  citizens  between  the  ages  of  18  and  55  must  be  en- 
rolled under  the  order  of  General  Hebert,  and  that  all  between 
the  ages  of  35  and  50  must  be  enrolled  under  my  order,  issued 
through  my  aide,  Col.  J.  H.  Herndon.  It  was  further  announced 
that  all  the  rattle,  mules,  horses,  and  surplus  provisions  must  be 
removed  from  the  island,  and  that  transportation  would  be  fur- 
nished, on  cars  and  boats,  to  points  on  the  mainland,  for  women, 
children,  and  other  noncombatants.  The  exodus  now  began  in 
earnest,  some  on  trains  and  others  on  the  boats  Diana,  Carr,  and 
lluthven.  Bv  virtue  of  the  enforcement  of  General  Hebert's 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  387 


and  my  orders  the  bulk  of  the  fighting  population,  amounting  to 
several  hundred,  were  added  to  the  army  by  the  enrolling  officer, 
Lieut.  Thos.  Cocke.  Meanwhile  the  cavalry  were  scouring  the 
island  for  cattle,  estimated  at  about  6000  head,  and  commissary 
agents  searching  for  surplus  provisions.  All  the  alien59  residents 
who  procured  protection  papers  from  their  respective  consuls 
were  excused  from  military  duty  in  supposed  compliance  to  the 
demands  of  international  law;  but  we  later  learned  and  were  on 
subsequent  occasions  guided  by  the  rule  in  fact  prescribed  by  the 
jus  gentium,  viz. :  That  aliens  are  liable  to  military  duty  in  a 
levy  en  masse  to  repel  invasion,  but  not  to  enrollment  as  soldiers 
for  ordinary  duty. 

While  executing  his  orders  for  the  removal  of  property,  Provost 
Marshal  Massie  wrote  the  Telegraph :  "I  am  moving  heaven  and 
earth  to  get  everything  away.  After  a  few  more  days  the  enemy 
can  have  all  that  is  left;  and  if  they  can  make  much  use  of  it, 
they  may  have  my  head  for  a  football."  About  5000  head  of  cat- 
tle were  taken  off  to  the  mainland. 

The  refugees  from  Galveston  were  mostly  poor  and  in  need  of 
assistance.  Of  course,  they  had  the  popular  sympathy,  and  con- 
tributions were  freely  made  in  their  behalf  at  Houston,  Colum- 
bia, and  other  places  of  refuge;  but  system  was  needed  in  the 
good  work.  I  therefore  issued  a  proclamation  setting  forth  their 
destitute  condition  and  calling  on  the  various  counties  to  make 
donations  to  the  unfortunates  through  their  county  courts.  In 
this  way  their  wants  were  in  a  great  measure  relieved. 

State  Treasurer  Randolph  donated,  as  representative  of  the 
Government  Officers'  Fund  Association,  $1000,  and  sent  it  to 
T.  W.  House,  mayor  of  Houston,  "for  the  benefit  of  such  of  the 
poor  as  may  remove  from  Galveston  Island." 

A  considerable  military  force  had  been  gathered  on  the  island, 
and,  under  the  skillful  direction  of  Colonel  Cooke,  the  prepara- 
tions for  resistance  were  completed.  Besides  this,  General  Hebert 
held  the  Tenth  brigade,  State  troops,  at  Houston,  to  reinforce  at 

69  According  to  the  Telegraph  of  July  — ,  1862,  298  aliens  claimed  ex- 
emption from  military  service  and  applied  to  their  respective  consuls 
for  protection  papers.  There  were  some  notable  exceptions  to  this 
"  shirking"  [on  the  part  of  aliens,  especially  among  the  Germans  and 
British;  and  they  did  good  service  at  every  crisis  on  the  island. 


388  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


a  moment's  notice.  The  Yankees,  advised  of  these  dispositions, 
failed  to  attack,  and  were  forced  to  content  themselves  with  a 
sullen  maintenance  of  the  blockade. 

While  this  holding  of  the  foe  at  bay  and  forcing  them  to  allow 
their  threats  of  an  attack  on  the  city  to  pass  unredeemed  was  a 
source  of  gratification  to  the  military  authorities  and  people,  the 
glorious  Fourth  of  July  did  not  bring  the  old-time  hilarity  on 
the  island,  as  there  were  seven  Yankee  blockaders  in  sight  to  cut 
off  our  supplies  from  abroad,  and  add  to  our  discomfort  gen- 
erally. 

A  man  deserted  with  a  skiff  that  night  and  was  seen  approach- 
ing the  Santee  next  morning.  It  was  the  notorious  "Nicaragua" 
Smith,  of  whom  more  hereafter. 

At  every  accessible  point  along  our  entire  coast  the  Yankees 
had  light  draft  vessels,  with  launches,  cruising  about  and  pick- 
ing up  our  little  craft  and  friendly  blockade  runners.  Sometimes 
raiding  parties  would  land  and  commit  depredations,  destroying 
property  and  killing  or  kidnaping  citizens. 

In  June,  1862,  the  Mississippi  Kiver  was  virtually  in  posses- 
sion of  the  enemy,  and  the  impression  was  entertained  in  some 
quarters  outside  of  Texas  that  the  Confederate  authorities  were 
neglecting  and  abandoning  the  portion  of  the  Confederacy  west 
of  that  river.  While  I  and  others  in  this  State  believed  such  im- 
pression to  be  unjust,  and  that  the  Confederate  government 
neither  intended  nor  desired  to  neglect  the  Trans-Mississippi 
States,  and  that  any  apparent  want  of  attention  to  our  necessities 
had  arisen  from  its  inability  at  the  time  to  guard  against  it, 
Governor  Rector,  of  Arkansas,  laboring  under  a  misapprehension 
of  facts,  issued  a  proclamation,  in  which  he  said : 

"Untoward  events  have  placed  Arkansas  beyond  the  pale  of 
protection.  Much  impaired,  although  not  incapable  of  resistance, 
she  will  strike  a  blow  for  liberty  and  continue  to  be  free.  If  left 
to  her  fate,  she  will  carve  a  new  destiny  rather  than  be  subju- 
gated. It  was  for  liberty  she  struck,  and  not  for  subordination  to 
any  created  secondary  power,  North  or  South.  Her  best  friends 
are  her  natural  allies  nearest  at  home,  who  will  pulsate  when  she 
bleeds,  whose  utmost  hope  is  not  beyond  her  existence.  If  the 
arteries  of  the  Confederate  heart  do  not  penetrate  beyond  the 
east  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  let  Southern  Missourians,  Ar- 


LUB  BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  389 


kansans,  Texans,  and  the  great  West  know  it  and  prepare  for  the 
future.  Arkansas  lost,  abandoned,  subjugated,  is  not  Arkansas 
as  she  entered  the  Confederate  government.  Nor  will  she  remain 
Arkansas  a  Confederate  State,  desolated  as  a  wilderness.  Her 
children,  fleeing  from  the  wrath  to  come,  will  build  them  a  new 
ark  and  launch  it  on  new  waters,  and  seek  a  haven,  somewhere,  of 
equality,  safety,  and  rest.  Be  of  good  cheer,  my  countrymen; 
there  is  still  a  balm  in  Gilead ;  the  good  Samaritan  will  be  found. 
Strike  now  and  ever  for  your  homes  and  liberty  against  all  men 
who  invade  the  one  or  dispute  the  other." 

This  proclamation  reached  the  ears  of  the  government  at  Rich- 
mond, and  created  considerable  momentary  uneasiness.  To  allay 
this  I  wrote  unofficially  to  Mr.  Davis,  under  date  of  June  27, 
1862: 

"My  friend,  Judge  Gray,  did  me  but  simple  justice  when  he 
assured  you  that  I  would  be  found,  together  with  the  people  of 
Texas,  true  and  firm  in  the  support  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

"This  is  no  time  for  bickerings,  heart-burnings,  and  divisions 
among  a  people  struggling  for  existence  as  a  free  government. 

"I  have  given  a  letter  of  introduction  to  Col.  Chas.  De  Morse. 
I  meant  all  I  said  in  the  letter,  and  trust  you  may  be  able  to  grant 
his  request. 

"He,  as  editor  of  the  Clarksville  Standard,  a  paper  established 
by  him  many  years  ago,  utterly  demolished  Rector's  proclama- 
tion. 

"Let  me  assure  you  that  you  need  give  yourself  no  uneasiness 
in  regard  to  it.  If  Governor  Rector  is  wrong,  when  I  see  him 
I  shall  endeavor  to  get  him  right.  Governor  Moore  I  am  satis- 
fied is  a  patriot,  and  will  stand  square  up. 

"You  can  rely  on  my  fealty  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the 
entire  South." 

As  a  result  of  this  letter,  Maj.  Guy  M.  Bryan  came  to  me,  at 
the  instance  of  President  Davis,  early  in  July,  and  suggested  the 
propriety  of  calling  a  conference  of  the  Governors  of  Arkansas, 
Louisiana,  Missouri,  and  Texas,  to  meet  at  Marshall,  Texas,  for 
the  purpose  of  suggesting  plans  for  the  defense  of  the  States  west 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  asking  the  adoption  of  such  measures 
by  the  Confederate  government  as  might  be  deemed  necessary 


390  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  practicable,  and  taking  such  other  action  as  might  be  de- 
cided upon  as  advisable. 

I  heartily  concurred  with  Mr.  Bryan,  and  at  once  indited  let- 
ters to  the  Governors  of  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  and  Missouri,  in- 
viting them  to  meet  with  me  at  Marshall  on  the  20th  of  July,  or 
as  soon  thereafter  as  possible,  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  pur- 
poses above  enumerated. 

These  letters  I  turned  over  to  Major  Bryan,  who  delivered 
them  in  due  time  to  the  gentlemen  to  whom  they  were  addressed. 

C.  S.  West,  Secretary  of  State,  accompanied  me  in  my  buggy 
on  this  journey  of  about  300  miles  to  Marshall.  On  the  way  we 
had  the  opportunity  of  speaking  words  of  cheer  to  the  people, 
informing  them  that  the  object  of  our  visit  to  that  place  was  to 
put  the  country  on  a  better  war  footing.60 

Governor  Moore,  of  Louisiana,  was  prevented  from  being  pres- 
ent by  reason  of  the  invasion  of  that  State.  I,  however,  had  the 
honor  and  great  gratification  of  meeting  Governor  Claiborne  F. 
Jackson,  of  Missouri,  than  whom  no  more  zealous,  indefatigable, 
and  true-hearted  patriot  existed.  God  in  his  inscrutable  provi- 
dence later  called  him  from  his  sphere  of  usefulness ;  and,  while 
we  bowed  Avith  submission  to  the  divine  decree,  we  could  but 
mourn  his  loss. 

Governor  Jackson  and  myself  prepared  the  necessary  papers 
and  forwarded  them  to  Governors  Moore  and  Rector,  who  most 
fully  endorsed  all  that  we  had  done,  and  affixed  their  signatures 
to  the  papers.  These  in  due  time  were  delivered  to  President 
Davis  by  Maj.  Guy  M.  Bryan,  then  an  aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  P.  0. 
Hebert.  In  all  this  business  much  was  due  to  him  for  the  good 
that  resulted  from  our  consultation. 

60  The  Texas  Republican  of  July  26,  1862,  thus  notices  the  arrival  of 
the  Governors: 

"  Governor  Jackson  and  Governor  Lubbock  have  reached  here.  On 
Wednesday  evening  Hon.  Guy  M.  Bryan,  who  has  taken  great  interest 
in  this  proposed  interview,  and  who  contributed  his  aid  to  bring  it 
about,  arrived  from  Little  Rock,  which  place  he  left  last  Saturday 
morning.  Governor  Rector,  of  Arkansas,  can  not  attend  in  consequence 
of  domestic  affliction  (one  of  his  children  being  dangerously  ill),  but  has 
promised  his  hearty  co-operation  in  any  measures  that  may  be  adopted 
for  counsel  or  defense.  Governor  Moore,  of  Louisiana,  is  expected,  but 
has  not  arrived.  This  meeting  is  pregnant,  we  are  fain  to  believe,  with 
important  results." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  391 


We  addressed  a  letter  to  President  Davis  in  which  we  said,  in 
part: 

"The  events  of  the  past  three  months  have  clearly  disclosed 
that  to  properly  defend  the  States  west  of  the  river  three  things 
are  absolutely  indispensable;  without  them  we  can  not  use  our 
strength  nor  fully  develop  the  mighty  power  of  resistance  that  is 
in  our  midst. 

"First.  We  should  have  a  commanding  general  having  terri- 
torial jurisdiction  over  all  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi 
Eiver. 

"Second.    We  must  have  money  for  the  support  of  the  army. 

"Third.  We  must  have  arms  and  also  ammunition,  if  it  can 
be  spared ;  but  arms  we  are  compelled  to  have. 

"The  method  pursued,  since  the  loss  of  the  Mississippi,  of 
sending  special  messengers  to  Eichmond  for  money,  has  not  only 
been  attended  with  great  risk  and  expense,  but  the  transportation 
of  such  messengers,  if  the  system  should  be  continued,  will  cost 
the  government  more  than  the  establishment  and  support  of  a 
branch  of  the  treasury  department.  We  do  not  deem  it  neces- 
sary to  enlarge  on  the  absolute  necessity  of  a  measure  when  it 
seems  so  obvious. 

"Our  soldiers  are  without  their  pay,  and  in  some  instances  dis- 
satisfied. This  dissatisfaction  has  been  carried  so  far  in  some 
cases  as  to  amount  to  mutiny.  The  government  has  contracted 
heavy  debts  and  is  daily  contracting  more.  In  order  that  the 
faith  of  the  people  and  of  the  soldiers  in  the  government  may  not 
be  shaken,  it  should  provide  means  for  the  speedy  payment  of  its 
soldiers  and  its  creditors.  If  there  is  no  power  under  present 
legislation  to  establish  such  a  branch  of  the  treasury,  then  we 
would  suggest  that  the  attention  of  the  Congress  soon  to  meet 
be  called  at  once  to  the  matter  so  that  this  want  may  be  remedied. 

"There  is  a  most  distressing  want  of  small  arms  on  this  side 
of  the  river.  There  are  at  this  time  many  regiments  and  organ- 
ized bodies  of  soldiers  who  have  been  idle  in  camp  at  an  enormous 
expense  to  the  government  for  six  months  past,  and  all  for  the 
want  of  arms.  If  20,000  or  30,000  stand  of  small  arms  could  be 
sent  across  the  river,  we  feel  satisfied  that  in  two  months  after 
their  arrival  we  would  have  an  army  of  50,000  men  in  the  field, 
and  are  sanguine  that  with  an  abundance  of  funds  and  an  able 


LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


commander,  the  number  could  be  increased  even  beyond  that 
amount. 

"We  can  assure  you  that  it  is  the  fixed  and  unalterable  purpose 
of  the  States  of  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  and  Texas,  and  the  brave 
and  loyal  sons  of  Missouri,  whose  hearts  are  in  our  cause,  to  sus- 
tain with  all  their  power  the  Confederate  government,  and,  at  all 
hazards,  to  offer  a  stubborn  resistance  to  the  enemy  at  every 
point.  All  that  we  desire  is  that  you  send  us  a  cool  and  able  head 
to  direct  our  military  operations,  provide  the  funds  necessary  to 
support  the  army,  and  the  arms  to  put  into  the  hands  of  our  citi- 
zens, and  then  we  will  endeavor  to  deal  with  the  enemy  on  this 
side  of  the  river  as  successfully  as  you  have  done  upon  the  James 
and  the  Chickahominy." 

By  the  same  messenger  who  conveyed  the  formal  communica- 
tion of  the  Governors  I  sent  a  personal  letter  to  President  Davis, 
in  which  I  said :  "Colonel  Bryan  can  explain  to  you  more  fully 
than  I  can  write  the  situation  of  the  country,  and  the  great  im- 
portance of  acting  at  once  in  the  premises."  And  also- a  letter 
to  our  senators  and  representatives  in  Congress,  in  which  I  said 
in  part : 

"Nothing  said  to  the  President  has  been  over-colored.  The 
fact  is,  our  soldiers  have  been  suffering  for  months.  A  large 
portion  of  the  men  in  the  field  are  poor  and  with  families.  They 
have  abandoned  business,  many  of  them  leaving  their  affairs  in 
a  most  deplorable  condition,  so  that  even  the  mere  pittance  al- 
lowed them  by  the  government  would  go,  in  many  cases,  far  to 
relieve  the  wants  of  those  they  leave  behind.  Instances  are  fre- 
quent of  wives  of  soldiers  in  the  service  being  compelled  to  sacri- 
fice property  in  order  to  pay  their  taxes,  whilst  the  government 
is  indebted  to  their  husbands  for  services  in  the  army.  These 
things  should  not  be. 

"The  same  may  be  said  of  citizens  who  have  sold  property  to 
the  government,  and  of  mechanics  who  have  labored  for  quarter- 
masters, commissaries,  etc.  A  remedy  should  at  once  be  found 
for  these  evils.  It  is  necessary  in  order  to  give  our  people  confi- 
dence in  the  government.  To  do  this,  it  will  be  necessary,  it  will 
be  imperatively  necessary,  that  a  fiscal  agent,  branch  of  the 
treasury,  or  some  other  plan  be  adopted  whereby  the  department 
west  of  the  Mississippi  can  be  constantly  supplied  with  adequate 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  393 


means  for  its  support.  Scare  a  day  passes  that  we  do  not  see  and 
hear  of  colonels,  agents,  and  others  running  to  Richmond  after 
funds.  Regiments,  battalions,  and  companies  are  detained  for 
months  after  their  organization  for  means  required  to  move 
them.  This  must  all  be  attended  with  most  ruinous  expense  to 
the  government,  and  injury  to  our  cause. 

"A  general,  cool,  brave,  energetic,  and  with  the  ability  to  com- 
mand our  vast  country,  should  be  immediately  sent  here.  There 
should  be  but  one  head,  with  ample  power  to  control  all  of  the 
territory,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  including  jurisdiction  over  all 
of  the  sub-military  districts,  and  he  should  be  fully  authorized 
to  do  all  things  connected  with  the  defense  of  the  country. 

"If  these  suggestions  are  acted  upon  promptly,  and  the  gov- 
ernment could  send  us  an  additional  supply  of  small  arms,  even 
though  they  be  the  arms  that  have  been  laid  aside  for  better  ones, 
I  feel  assured  in  saying  that  we  can  furnish  a  good  fighting  man 
for  every  gun  so  sent  in  addition  to  those  now  armed  and  in  the 
service,  and  that  we  can  preserve  and  keep  safe  our  territory  for 
the  Confederacy.  You  can  rest  assured,  gentlemen,  and  so  say 
to  the  President,  that  since  my  occupation  of  the  executive  chair 
every  exertion  has  been  made  on  my  part  to  sustain  his  adminis- 
tration and  the  cause  of  the  Confederacy ;  that  I  have  no  other  de- 
sire than  to  see  the  government  prosperous  and  successful,  and 
nothing  that  I  can  do  to  sustain  the  Confederate  authorities  shall 
be  omitted. 

"Colonel  Bryan  has  kindly  consented  to  bear  our  letters,  and 
I  trust  with  your  assistance  his  mission  may  prove  entirely  suc- 
cessful. You  may  fully  confer  with  Colonel  B.  He  has  been 
present  during  our  interviews,  and  understands  well  the  points 
we  wish  to  make,  and  can  give  you  much  valuable  information 
as  to  the  condition  of  things  generally."61 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  address  that  Governors  C. 
F.  Jackson,  Thos.  0.  Moore,  H.  M.  Rector,  and  myself  issued  to 
the  citizens  and  soldiers  of  the  States  of  Missouri,  Arkansas, 
Louisiana,  and  Texas: 

"We,  your  Governors,  h'ave  deemed  it  our  duty  freely  to  con- 
fer with  one  another  for  our  common  good  and  for  the  alvance- 
ment  of  the  sacred  cause  of  the  Confederacy, — a  cause  that  in- 

« l  The  above  letter  was  written  at  Marshall. 


394  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


volves  not  only  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the  States  concerned, 
but  the  preservation  on  this  continent  of  the  rights  of  self-gov- 
ernment bequeathed  to  us  by  our  forefathers.  .  .  . 

"We  have  every  confidence  in  the  Confederate  authorities.  We 
believe  that  they  will  fully  sustain  the  credit  of  the  government 
here,  and  provide  amply  for  our  future  defense.  But  in  order 
that  they  may  be  able  thus  to  defend  us,  it  behooves  us  all  to  be  at 
work.  Let  every  firearm  be  repaired,  and  every  gunsmith  and 
every  worker  in  iron,  and  every  mechanic  be  employed  in  fashion- 
ing the  material  of  war.  Let  the  women  sit  day  by  day  at  the 
spinning-wheel  and  the  loom,  and  with  the  needle,  never  weary 
in  preparing  the  necessary  articles  of  clothing  for  the  brave  sol- 
diers of  our  States  who  stand  between  them  and  infamy  and 
misery  as  an  impassable  bulwark  in  our  cause.  Let  all  the  war- 
like resources  of  these  great  States  be  brought  to  light.  It  is  for 
liberty  and  life  we  fight;  and  a  good  God  has  given  us  in  this 
fair  land  all  the  material  that  brave  men  need  to  defend  their 
homes  and  honor.  .  .  . 

"As  to  the  final  results,  fellow-citizens,  judging  by  the  his- 
tory of  the  past  eighteen  months,  can  you  doubt  it  ? 

"Except  on  the  coast  and  on  our  rivers,  at  points  easily  as- 
sailed by  gunboats,  we  have  had  no  cause  to  complain  of  the  re- 
sult. Witness  Bethel,  Manassas,  Oak  Hill,  Lexington,  Lees- 
burg,  Belmont,  Shiloh,  and  Chickahominy.  Our  soldiers  have 
shown  on  every  field  a  desperate  valor  that  has  wrung  reluctant 
plaudits  from  our  foes.  Whenever  ordered  to  advance,  they  have 
done  so  regardless  of  the  danger,  and  at  the  word  of  command. 

"WTith  such  soldiers  and  such  incentives  to  action,  and  with 
all  present  causes  of  complaint  in  the  course  of  speedy  removal, 
we  again  say  to  you,  be  of  good  cheer.  There  is  everything  to 
encourage  us,  and  you  may  rest  assured  that  it  is  our  fixed  and 
unalterable  purpose  to  contest  every  inch  of  ground  with  the  en- 
emy, and,  judging  you  by  your  past  patriotism,  we  shall  most  con- 
fidently rely  on  you  for  your  hearty  and  earnest  co-operation. 

"Be  firm,  true,  hopeful,  and  resolute,  and  a  just  God  will  help 
and  protect,  whilst  brave  hearts  will  fight  and  die. 

"Submission,  or  subjugation,  places  the  feet  of  the  oppressor 
upon  your  necks,  yields  up  your  noble  women  to  Butlers,  and  de- 
grades or  drives  into  exile  your  children. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  395 


"A  people  united  and  determined  to  be  free  can  never  be  con- 
quered, liemember  this.  Gird  on  your  swords,  shoulder  your 
rifles,  and  be  ready  for  the  word  of  command  when  given  by  the 
government  of  our  choice  and  affection." 

Our  meeting  quieted  the  little  unrest  felt,  and  gave  us  more 
strength  for  the  next  two  years'  conflict. 

Colonel  Bryan  did  faithful  service  both  as  a  counselor  and  as 
a  messenger.  He  traveled  thousands  of  miles  by  every  mode  of 
conveyance  to  bear  dispatches,  never  failing  until  this  conference 
at  Marshall  brought  favorable  results  in  restored  confidence,  in 
the  appointment  of  a  chief  with  enlarged  discretionary  powers, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  fiscal  agency  for  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Department.  But  as  for  the  arms  and  ammunition,  we  had  to 
do  the  best  we  could  for  ourselves.  That  the  best  was  so  bad,  so 
insufficient  for  the  pressing  necessities  of  the  country,  will  make 
an  important  chapter  in  the  truthful  history  that  relates  how 
brave  and  true  patriots  in  defense  of  their  rights  were  finally 
forced  to  surrender. 


390  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-TWO. 

Letter  from  General  Hebert  —  General  Sibley's  Expedition  to  New  Mex- 
ico—  El  Paso  —  March  Up  the  Rio  Grande  —  Battle  of  Valverde  — 
Official  Reports  —  Socorro  and  Albuquerque  —  Occupation  of  Santa 
Fe  —  Battle  of  Glorieta  —  Retreat  —  Peralto  —  Terrible  March  Across 
the  Jornada  —  Return  to  San  Antonio  —  Sibley's  Final  Report  — 
Reiley's  Mission  to  Chihuahua. 

On  my  return  to  Austin  I  found  a  letter  from  General  Hebert, 
excusing  himself  for  not  attending  the  conference  at  Marshall, 
as  he  had  promised  me  to  do,  and  saying :  "The  enemy's  demon- 
stration at  Corpus  Christi,  since  realized  by  actual  landing  and 
bombardment ;  the  reports  of  disloyalty  in  certain  counties,  since 
proved  well  founded  by  armed  resistance  to  our  troops ;  the  evac- 
uation of  New  Mexico  and  Arizona  by  General  Sibley,  leaving 
our  northwest  posts  exposed,  and  the  arrival  of  his  command, 
with  other  matters,  made  my  presence  here  absolutely  necessary 
about  the  time  I  should  have  been  absent.  Futhermore,  I  had 
some  faint  fears  that  the  result  of  the  conference  might  have  in- 
volved the  taking  of  more  troops  from  this  State." 

Always  on  the  alert  for  disaster,  the  general  adds :  "Colonel 
Carleton  with  his  California  troops,  or  a  portion  of  them,  has  no 
doubt  ere  this  occupied  Fort  Bliss,  an  intercepted  dispatch  of  his 
showing  this  to  be  his  intention.  Our  line  of  forts  will  have  to  be 
abandoned  to  Fort  Clark." 

General  Sibley  had  been  a  United  States  officer  in  New  Mexico, 
and  was  presumably  familiar  with  the  country  and  people.  After 
his  resignation  from  the  United  States  army  he  repaired  to  Rich- 
mond, and  at  his  solicitation  obtained  authority  to  organize  an 
expedition  in  Texas  for  the  conquest  of  New  Mexico.  Thus, 
while  Col.  John  R.  Baylor  was  conquering  Arizona  Territory  in 
the  summer  of  1861,  Sibley  was  busy  raising  a  brigade  to  occupy 
Santa  Fe.  Gov.  Ed  Clark  heartily  co-operated  with  General  Sib- 
ley, but  owing  to  unavoidable  delays  caused  by  scarcity  of  arms 
and  accoutrements,  the  expedition  did  not  get  ready  before  win- 
ter. The  dreary  stretch  of  700  miles  through  Western  Texas  to 
El  Paso  could  yield  no  supplies  to  troops  marching  across  it, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  397 


therefore  the  brigade  moved  off  from  San  Antonio  by  regiments, 
with  intervals  of  a  week  or  more  in  starting.  It  was  made  up 
of  the  Second,  Fourth,  Fifth,  and  Seventh  regiments  of  mounted 
volunteers,  and  Teel's  battery  of  artillery. 

General  Sibley  and  staff02  reported  at  El  Paso  about  the  mid- 
dle of  December.  Sibley's  brigade  and  the  forces  under  General 
Baylor  were  united  early  in  January  at  Fort  Thorn,  New  Mexico, 
and  the  headquarters  selected,  General  Sibley  assuming  command 
of  the  whole.  It  was  while  the  Confederate  army  of  New  Mexico 
and  Arizona  was  concentrating  for  an  advance  upon  Fort  Craig 
that  Colonel  Reiley  was  dispatched  upon  a  diplomatic  mission  to 
Chihuahua. 

"It  is  due  to  the  brave  soldiers  I  have  had  the  honor  to  com- 
mand," afterwards  reported  General  Sibley,  "to  premise  that, 
from  its  first  inception,  the  Sibley  brigade  has  encountered  dif- 
ficulties in  its  organization,  and  opposition  and  distaste  to  the 
service  required  at  its  hands,  which  no  other  troops  have  met 
with.  From  misunderstandings,  accidents,  deficiency  of  arms, 
etc.,  instead  of  reaching  the  field  of  its  operations  early  in  Sep- 
tember, as  was  anticipated,  I  found  myself  at  this  point  (Fort 
Thorn)  as  late  as  the  middle  of  January,  1862,  with  only  two 
regiments  and  a  half,  poorly  armed,  thinly  clad,  and  almost  des- 
titute of  blankets.  The  ranks  were  becoming  daily  thinned  by 
those  two  terrible  scourges  to  an  army — smallpox  and.  pneu- 
monia. Not  a  dollar  of  quartermaster's  funds  was  on  hand,  or 
ever  had  been,  to  supply  the  daily  and  pressing  necessities  of  the 
service,  and  the  small  means  of  this  sparse  section  had  been  long 
consumed  by  the  force  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Baylor,  so  that  the  credit  of  the  government  was  not  as  avail- 
able a  resource  as  it  might  otherwise  have  been." 

Moving  up  the  Eio  Grande,  and  finally  crossing  that  stream. 
General  Sibley  made  a  reconnoissance,  February  16th,  in  force, 
on  Fort  Craig.  Then,  convinced  of  the  futility  of  attacking  Gen- 
eral Canby's  larger  army,  firmly  entrenched  at  that  point,  he 
slowly  withdrew  his  troops  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  hoping 

68  Major  A.  M.  Jackson,  A.  A.  G. :  Captain  R.  M.  Browning,  A.  Q. 
M. ;  Captain  Griffin,  commissary;  Dr.  Coroy,  brigade  surgeon;  Major 
W.  L.  Robards,  aide-de-camp;  Thomas  P.  Ochiltree  and  Joseph  E. 
Dwyer,  volunteer  aides,  constituted  General  Sibley's  staff. 


398  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


thus  to  decoy  the  enemy  into  the  open  field,  and  there  fight  him 
to  advantage.  This  movement  had  the  desired  effect.  The  Fed- 
erals attributed  the  withdrawal  of  the  Texans  to  a  premeditated 
determination  to  retreat  and  avoid  battle  with  a  superior  force. 
So  surmising,  even  the  Mexican  contingent  of  the  Union  garri- 
son at  Fort  Craig  enthusiastically  sallied  out  from  behind  the 
fortifications  to  participate  in  the  pursuit  and  help  force  an  en- 
gagement. The  result  was  a  hot  fight,  and  a  brilliant  victory 
for  the  Texans  at  Valverde. 

General  Sibley  thus  reported  the  battle  to  General  Cooper  at 
Richmond,  February  22,  1862  : 

"I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you,  for  the  information  of  the 
President,  that  I  encountered  the  enemy  at  this  point  (six  miles 
above  Fort  Craig)  in  force  at  11  o'clock  yesterday  morning,  and 
after  one  of  the  most  severely  contested  actions,  lasting  until  5 
p.  m.,  the  enemy  was  driven  from  the  field  with  a  loss,  as  esti- 
mated, of  four  captains  of  the  regular  army,  and  some  300 
killed  and  wounded,  and  the  capture  of  his  entire  field  bat- 
tery, the  disabling  of  one  twenty-four-pounder,  and  the  abandon- 
ment of  another  in  the  river.  We  have  but  few  prisoners ;  among 
them  is  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Kussell,  of  the  Tenth  infantry.  The  en- 
emy had  upon  the  field  about  3500  men,  1200  of  whom  were  old 
regulars.  We  never  had  more  than  1500  engaged.  For  the  first 
time,  perhaps,  on  record,  batteries  were  charged  and  taken  at  the 
muzzle  of  double-barrel  shotguns,  thus  illustrating  the  spirit, 
valor,  and  invincible  determination  of  Texas  troops.  Nobly  have 
they  emulated  the  fame  of  their  San  Jacinto  ancestors.  Our 
loss  was  severe — forty  killed,  including  Maj.  S.  A.  Lockridge,  of 
the  Fifth  regiment,  and  Capt.  M.  Heuvel,  of  the  Fourth.  I  have 
no  report  of  the  wounded,  but  think  100  will  cover  it. 

"Before  closing  this  report,  it  is  especially  due  to  Col.  Thomas 
Green  of  the  Fifth,  to  say  that,  in  consequence  of  severe  and  pro- 
longed illness  and  weakness  resulting  from  it,  I  could  only  keep 
my  saddle  until  1  o'clock,  and  at  that  hour  I  relinquished  to  him 
the  full  direction  of  active  operations.  His  coolness  under  the 
heaviest  fire,  and  intrepidity  under  the  most  trying  circum- 
stances, are  sufficiently  attested  by  the  results.  I  can  not  com- 
mend Colonel  Green  too  highly  to  the  favorable  consideration  of 
the  executive. 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  399 


"It  will  be  necessary,  to  secure  our  purpose,  to  reinforce  me 
largely  from  Texas  at  as  early  a  day  as  possible.  The  force  we 
had  to  contend  against  amounted  to  near  6000  men. 

"I  beg  leave,  in  conclusion,  to  bring  to  your  notice  the  intelli- 
gence and  valor  of  the  members  of  my  staff, — Maj.  A.  M.  Jack- 
son, A.  A.  G. ;  Maj.  R.  T.  Browning,  commissary  of  subsistence; 
Lieutenant  Ochiltree,  aide-de-camp,  and  Col.  W.  L.  Robards, 
Major  Magoffin,  and  Capt.  J.  Dwyer,  volunteer  aides. 

"P.  S. — Lieut.-Col.  J.  S.  Sutton,  of  the  Seventh  regiment 
(Col.  William  Steele's),  in  command  of  his  battalion,  and  Capt. 
Willis  L.  Lang,  of  the  Fifth,  greatly  distinguished  themselves, 
and  were  both  severely  wounded;  and  I  should  not  omit  Lieut. 
D.  M.  Bass,  of  Captain  Lang's  company,  who  was  also  severely 
wounded  in  front  of  the  charge,  leading  the  lancers  upon  the 
enemy." 

The  following  extract  is  from  Col.  Tom  Green's  report: 

"Our  dismounted  troops,  in  front,  were  composed  of  parts  of 
the  Fourth  and  Fifth  regiments  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers, 
and  parts  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Sutton's  and  most  of  Pyron's 
battalion,  and  Teel's,  Reiley's,  and  Wood's  batteries  of  artillery, 
numbering  about  750  on  the  ground.  Major  Raguet's  cavalry 
numbered  about  250,  making  about  1000  men  in  the  charge. 

"At  the  command  to  charge  our  men  leaped  over  the  sand- 
bank, which  had  served  as  a  good  covering  to  them,  and  dashed 
over  the  open  plain,  thinly  interspersed  with  cottonwood  trees, 
upon  the  battery  and  infantry  of  the  enemy  in  front,  composed 
of  the  United  States  regulars  and  Denver  City  volunteers,  and, 
in  a  most  desperate  charge  and  hand-to-hand  conflict,  completely 
overwhelmed  them,  killing  most  of  their  gunners  around  their 
cannon,  and  driving  the  infantry  into  the  river.  Never  were 
double-barrel  shotguns  and  rifles  used  to  better  effect.  A  large 
number  of  the  enemy  were  killed  in  the  river  with  shotguns 
and  sixshooters  in  their  flight.  So  soon  as  the  enemy  had  fled 
in  disorder  from  our  terrible  fire  in  front,  we  turned  upon  his 
infantry  and  cavalry  and  twenty-four-pounders  on  our  left  flank, 
first  engaged  by  Major  Raguet.  We  charged  them,  as  we  had 
those  in  front;  but  they  were  not  made  of  as  good  stuff  as  the 
regulars,  and  a  few  fires  upon  them  with  their  own  artillery  and 
Teel's  guns,  a  few  volleys  of  small  arms  and  the  old  Texas  war- 


400  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


shout  completely  dispersed  them.  They  fled  .from  the  field,  both 
cavalry  and  artillery,  in  the  utmost  disorder,  many  of  them  drop- 
ping their  guns  to  lighten  their  heels,  and  stopping  only  under 
the  walls  of  the  fort.  Our  victory  was  complete.  The  enemy 
must  have  been  3000  strong,  while  our  force  actually  engaged  did 
not  exceed  600.  Six  splendid  pieces  of  artillery  and  their  entire 
equipage  fell  into  our  hands ;  also  many  fine  small  arms." 

Colonel  Green  thus  commends  two  members  of  his  regimental 
staff: 

"Sergt.-Maj.  C.  B.  Sheppard  shouldered  his  gun  and  fought 
gallantly  in  the  ranks  of  Captain  McPhail's  company  in  the 
charge.  Lieut.  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  adjutant  of  the  Fifth,  during 
the  whole  day  reminded  me  of  a  hero  of  the  days  of  chivalry.  He 
is  a  gallant,  daring,  and  dashing  soldier,  and  is  as  cool  in  a  storm 
of  grape,  shell,  canister,  and  musketry  as  a  veteran.  I  recom- 
mend him,  through  the  General,  to  the  President  for  promo- 
tion." 

A  noble  tribute  this  to  the  worth  of  the  youth  to  be  called 
thirty-six  years  later  to  the  governorship  of  Texas. 

General  Canby,  the  Federal  commander,  admitted  his  force  to 
be  3500  men.  Ours  on  the  field  did  not  exceed  1750,  viz:  The 
Fourth  regiment,  600:  the  Fifth,  600;  the  Seventh,  300,  and 
Pyron's  command,  Second  mounted  regiment  of  rifles,  250. 

Canby  reported  his  loss  at  68  killed,  160  wounded,  and  35 
missing — total,  263.  O.ur  loss  was  36  killed,  150  wounded,  and 
1  missing — total,  187. 

"Depositing  our  sick  at  Socorro,  thirty  miles  above  Fort 
Craig,"  says  General  Sibley  in  a  later  report,  "the  march  was  un- 
interruptedly made  to  Albuquerque,  where,  notwithstanding  the 
destruction  by  the  enemy  of  large  supplies  by  fire,  ample  subsist- 
ence was  secured.  A  very  considerable  quantity  of  supplies  and 
ammunition  was  also  obtained  at  Cubero,  a  temporary  post  sixty 
miles  west  of  Albuquerque.  Other  supplies  were  also  taken  at 
Santa  Fe,  and,  upon  the  whole,  we  had  a  sufficiency  for  some 
three  months. 

"It  is  due  to  the  Fourth  regiment  to  mention  at  this  place  an 
act  of  devotion  and  self-sacrifice  worthy  of  high  praise,  and  the 
more  commendable  because  they  are  Texans.  In  the  action  at 
Valverde  many  of  their  horses  ware  killed,  thus  leaving  them 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  401 


half  foot  and  half  mounted.  The  proposition  being  made  to  them 
to  dismount,  the  whole  regiment,  without  a  dissenting  voice  (a 
cavalry  regiment,  which  had  proudly  flaunted  its  banner  before 
the  enemy  on  the  20th),  took  up  the  line  of  march  on  the  24th, 
a  strong  and  reliable  regiment  of  infantry. 

"Having  secured  all  the  available  stores  in  and  about  Albu- 
querque and  dispatched  Maj.  Charles  L.  Pyron  with  his  com- 
mand to  Santa  Fe  to  secure  such  as  might  be  found  there,  I  de- 
termined to  make  a  strong  demonstration  on  Fort  Union.  With 
this  view,  Col.  William  E.  Scurry,  with  the  Fourth  and  the  bat- 
talion of  Colonel  Steele's  regiment,  under  Maj.  Powhatan  Jordan, 
was  pushed  forward  in  the  direction  of  Gallisteo;  while  Colonel 
Green,  with  his  regiment  (Fifth),  being  somewhat  crippled  in 
transportation,  was  held  for  a  few  days  in  hand,  to  check  any 
movement  from  Fort  Craig.  Meanwhile,  the  enemy  (having 
received  reinforcements  at  Fort  Union  of  950  men  from  Pike's. 
Peak),  took  the  initiative  and  commenced  a  rapid  march  on 
Santa  Fe." 

The  battle  of  Glorieta  occurred  a  few  days  later.  The  follow- 
ing is  from  General  Sibley's  report : 

"The  battle  of  Glorieta  was  fought  March  28th  by  detached 
troops,  under  the  command  of  Lieu  tenant- Colonel  Scurry  and 
Federal  forces  (principally  Pike's  Peakers),  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Slough,  the  one  having  1000  men,  and  the  other  esti- 
mated at  1500  or  2000.  Glorieta  is  a  canyon  twenty-three  miles 
east  of  Santa  Fe. 

"Pending  the  battle,  the  enemy  detached  a  portion  of  his  forces 
to  attack  and  destroy  our  supply  train,  which  he  succeeded  in 
doing,  thus  crippling  Colonel  Scurry  to  such  a  degree  that  he 
was  two  days  without  provisions  or  blankets.  The  patient,  un- 
complaining endurance  of  our  men  is  most  remarkable  and 
praiseworthy. 

"Our  loss  was  33  killed  and  35  wounded.  Among  the  killed 
are  Majors  Raguet  and  Shropshire,  and  Captain  Buckholtz.  Col- 
onel Scurry  had  his  cheek  twice  grazed  by  minie  balls,  and  Major 
Pyron  had  his  horse  killed  under  him. 

"In  consequence  of  the  loss  of  his  train,  Colonel  Scurry  has 
fallen  back  upon  Santa  Fe. 

"I  must  have  reinforcements.  The  future  operations  of  this 
26 


402  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


army  will  be  duly  reported.  Send  me  reinforcements.  .  .  . 
Pending  this  action  I  was  on  my  route  to  Santa  Fe,  in  rear  of 
Green's  regiment,  which  had  meanwhile  been  put  in  march  for 
that  place,  where,  on  my  arrival,  I  found  the  whole  exultant  army 
assembled.  The  sick  and  wounded  had  been  comfortably  quar- 
tered and  attended;  the  loss  of  clothing  and  transportation  had 
been  made  up  from  the  enemy's  stores  and  confiscations,  and, 
indeed,  everything  done  which  should  have  been  done. 

"Many  friends  were  found  in  Santa  Fe  who  had  been  in  dur- 
ance. Among  the  rest,  Gen.  William  Pelham,  who  had  but  re- 
cently been  released  from  a  dungeon  in  Fort  Union. 

"After  the  occupancy  of  the  capital  of  the  territory  for  nearly 
a  month  from  the  time  of  our  first  advance  upon  it,  the  forage 
and  supplies  obtainable  there  having  become  exhausted,  it  was 
determined  to  occupy,  with  the  whole  army,  the  village  of  Man- 
zano,  intermediate  between  Fort  Union,  Albuquerque,  and  Fort 
Craig,  and  secure,  as  a  line  of  communication,  the  road  to  Fort 
Stanton.  This  plan  was  disconcerted,  however,  by  the  rapid  and 
continuous  expresses  from  Albuquerque,  urging  the  necessity  of 
reinforcements  to  hold  the  place  (the  depot  of  all  our  supplies) 
against  the  advancing  forces  of  Canby  from  Fort  Craig.  The 
entire  force  was  accordingly  moved  by  forced  marches  in  the 
direction  of  Albuquerque,  arriving  too  late  to  encounter  the  en- 
emy, but  time  enough  to  secure  our  limited  supplies  from  the 
contingency  of  capture. 

"In  our  straightened  circumstances  the  question  now  arose  in 
my  mind,  whether  to  evacuate  the  country  or  take  the  desperate 
chances  of  fighting  the  enemy  in  his  stronghold  (Fort  Union), 
for  scant  rations  at  the  best.  The  course  adopted  was  deemed 
the  wisest." 

On  tho  morning  of  April  12th,  no  reinforcements  being  avail- 
able, the  evacuation  of  New  Mexico  began,  the  commands  of 
Scurry,  Steele,  Pyron,  and  part  of  the  artillery  passing  over,  by 
the  ferry  and  ford,  to  the  west  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Green's 
regiment,  finding  the  ford  difficult,  remained  over  night  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river,  expecting  the  next  day  to  find  a  better 
crossing  lower  down.  Meanwhile  the  army  marched  down  as  far 
as  Los  Lunas,  and  there  awaited  the  arrival  of  General  Green. 
That  officer  appeared  with  his  regiment  in  due  time  at  Peralto, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  403 


on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Sibley  and  the  rest  of  the 
brigade.  To  make  matters  worse,  General  Canby,  having  re- 
ceived considerable  reinforcements  from  Fort  Union,  made  a 
rapid  night  march  to  within  striking  distance  of  Green's  camp. 
The  next  morning  Canby  began  the  fight  with  a  heavy  artillery 
fire  on  Green.  Sibley,  divining  the  meaning  of  this,  threw  at 
once  his  whole  disposable  force  across  the  river,  the  crossing  being 
effected  under  the  skillful  management  of  General  Scurry.  Gen- 
eral Sibley  and  staff  crossed  soon  after,  but  were  intercepted  and 
driven  back  across  the  river  by  a  party  of  Yankee  cavalry.  The 
hostile  armies  confronted  each  other  all  that  day,  in  easy  gunshot 
distance.  There  was  a  series  of  menacing  maneuvers, — a  little 
ineffectual  firing, — but  no  serious  conflict.  General  Canby  had 
declared  his  intention  of  capturing  the  whole  Texan  army,  if  he 
could  overtake  it,  affecting  to  believe  that  the  Texans  were  a 
disorderly  rabble  in  flight  from  the  country. 

Sibley's  troops  were  truly  in  a  desperate  condition, — seven  or 
eight  hundred  miles  from  their  base  of  supplies,  without  rations 
or  munitions,  and  with  double  their  number  of  well  provided  sol- 
diers in  front  of  them.  But  the  Texans  were  of  heroic  mould; 
some  were  soldiers  of  San  Jacinto,  some  had  participated  in  the 
storming  of  Monterey,  while  others  had  repulsed  Santa  Anna's 
veterans  at  Buena  Vista.  The  honor  of  Texas  was  never  in  safer 
hands. 

Under  the  friendly  cover  of  night  the  Texans,  unobserved, 
quietly  recrossed  the  river  to  the  camp  still  occupied  by  General 
Sibley  with  a  small  force.  The  next  morning  the  united  Texan 
army  resumed  their  march  down  the  river  on  the  west  side,  while 
the  exultant  Yankees  eagerly  pursued  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  river.  The  proximity  of  the  enemy  in  force  now  prevented 
General  Sibley  from  attacking  detached  bodies  of  Federals  along 
the  course  he  was  pursuing,  as  was  his  intention  when  two  days 
march  ahead  of  the  Yankees ;  a  general  engagement,  in  the  crip- 
pled condition  of  the  Texans,  was  to  be  avoided  if  possible. 

Finally,  forage  failing  the  Texans,  their  horses  could  no  longer 
draw  both  wagon  train  and  artillery,  and  one  or  the  other  had  to 
be  abandoned.  On  consultation  with  Colonels  Green,  Scurry, 
and  other  officers,  General  Sibley  decided  to  take  the  artillery 
with  him  and  leave  the  wagons,  and  to  change  his  line  of  retreat 


404  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  a  route  through  the  mountains,  avoiding  Fort  Craig  and  strik- 
ing the  river  below  that  point.  Accordingly,  after  nightfall,  all 
the  surplus  wagons  were  left  on  the  ground,  seven  days  rations 
packed  on  mules,  and  the  army  silently  moved  off  with  McKae's 
battery  of  six  guns  (under  the  special  care  of  Col.  Wm.  P.  Harde- 
man).  This  was  the  battery  captured  from  the  Yankees  at  Val- 
verde,  and  the  Texans  made  it  a  point  of  honor  to  save  it.  At 
the  last  moment  it  was  found  necessary  to  leave  the  other  can- 
non, as  there  were  no  horses  to  haul  them. 

Maj.  Bethel  Coopwood,  thoroughly  familar  with  the  country, 
undertook  to  guide  the  army  through  the  mountainous,  trackless 
waste  that  was  to  be  traversed. 

"The  route  was  a  difficult,"  says  General  Sibley,  "and  most 
hazardous  one,  both  in  respect  to  its  practicability  and  supply 
of  water.  The  successful  accomplishment  of  the  march  not  only 
proved  the  sagacity  of  our  guide,  but  the  pledge  of  Colonel 
Scurry,  that  the  guns  should  be  put  over  every  obstacle,  however 
formidable,  by  his  regiment,  was  nobly  fulfilled.  Not  a  murmur 
escaped  the  lips  of  our  brave  boys.  Descents  into  and  ascents  out 
of  the  deepest  canyons,  which  a  single  horseman  would  have 
sought  for  miles  to  avoid,  were  undertaken  and  accomplished 
with  a  cheerfulness  and  ability  which  were  the  admiration  and 
praise  of  the  whole  army.  Thus,  in  ten  days'  marching,  with 
seven  days'  rations,  a  point  on  the  river  where  supplies  had  been 
ordered  forward  was  reached. 

"The  river,  which  was  rising  rapidly,  was  safely  crossed  to  the 
east  bank  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Green,  and  at  this  mo- 
ment, I  am  happy  to  repeat,  the  whole  force  is  comfortably  quar- 
tered in  the  villages  extending  from  Dona  Ana  to  this  place." 
(Fort  Bliss.) 

This  retreat  across  the  Jornada  was  an  exploit  almost  without 
parallel  in  military  annals  whether  considered  as  difficult  and 
unexpected  checkmate  of  the  pursuing  enemy  at  a  moment  when 
he  was  confident  of  compelling  a  surrender,  or  as  a  test  of  mar- 
tial skill  and  soldierly  fortitude  and  endurance.  A  lesson  this 
in  military  achievements  which  few  but  Texans  could  give,  and 
which  all  Americans  can  now  appreciate. 

"My  chief  regret  in  making  this  retrograde  movement,"  con- 
tinues General  Sibley,  "was  the  necessity  of  leaving  hospitals  at 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  405 


Santa  Fe,  Albuquerque,  and  Socorro.  Everything,  however,  was 
provided  for  the  comfort  of  the  sick,  and  sufficient  funds  in  Con- 
federate paper  provided  them  to  meet  every  want,  if  it  be  ne- 
gotiated. It  has  been  almost  impossible  to  procure  specie  upon 
any  terms.  One  thousand  dollars  is  all  I  have  been  able  to  pro- 
cure for  the  use  of  hospitals  and  for  secret  service.  The  'ricos,' 
or  wealthy  citizens  of  New  Mexico,  had  been  completely  drained 
by  the  Federal  powers,  and,  adhering  to  them,  had  become  abso- 
lute followers  of  their  army  for  dear  life  and  their  invested  dol- 
lars. Politically  they  have  no  distinct  sentiment  or  opinion  on 
the  vital  question  at  issue.  Power  and  interest  alone  control  the 
expression  of  their  sympathies.  Two  noble  and  notable  exceptions 
to  this  rule  were  found  in  the  brothers  Eafael  and  Manuel  Ar- 
mrjo,  the  wealthiest  and  most  respectable  native  merchants  of 
New  Mexico.  The  latter  had  been  pressed  into  the  militia,  and 
was  compulsorily  present  in  the  action  at  Valverde.  On  our  ar- 
rival at  Albuquerque,  they  came  forward  boldly  and  protested 
their  sympathy  with  our  cause,  placing  their  stores,  containing 
goods  amounting  to  $200,000,  at  the  disposal  of  my  troops. 

"When  the  necessity  for  evacuating  the  country  became  inevit- 
able, these  two  gentlemen  abandoned  luxurious  homes  and  well- 
filled  storehouses  to  join  their  fate  to  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
I  trust  they  will  not  be  forgotten  in  the  final  settlement." 

Capt.  Thos.  P.  Ochiltree,63  aide-de-camp  to  General  Sibley, 
arrived  at  Austin  in  May  with  dispatches  from  that  general  ask- 
ing for  aid.  In  compliance,  I  wrote  at  once  to  the  department, 
commander.  General  Hebert,  as  follows :  "I  see  no  way  by  which 
I  can,  within  any  reasonable  time,  do  anything  for  the  command. 
There  are  many  men  in  the  State  enlisted,  but  they  are  all  in  the 
Confederate  service  and  beyond  my  control. 

"Should  you  feel  authorized  to  extend  to  him  any  relief,  I  will 
cheerfully  co-operate  with  you. 

"I  feel  a  very  strong  interest  in  the  command.  They  are  Tex- 
ans,  brave  and  gallant  soldiers.  They  are  in  that  country  by  or- 
der of  the  government  and  should  be  sustained." 

The  pressure  of  the  enemy  at  other  points  drained  Texas  of 
troops,  and  Hebert  did  not  feel  able  to  send  the  needed  reinforce- 

68  Captain  Ochiltree  was  also  the  bearer  of  dispatches  to  Richmond, 
and  continued  his  journey  from  Austin. 


406  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


merits;  and  New  Mexico,  won  by  such  heroic  valor  by  Texans, 
was  lost  to  the  Confederacy. 

"As  for  the  results  of  the  campaign,"  says  General  Sibley,  "I 
have  only  to  say  that  we  have  beaten  the  enemy  in  every  encoun- 
ter and  against  large  odds;  that,  from  being  the  worst  armed, 
my  forces  are  now  the  best  armed  in  the  country.  We  reached 
this  point  last  winter  in  rags  and  blanketless.  The  army  is  now 
well  clad  and  well  supplied  in  other  respects.  The  entire  cam- 
paign has  been  prosecuted  without  a  dollar  in  the  quartermaster's 
department,  Captain  Harrison  not  having  yet  reached  this  place. 
But,  sir,  I  can  not  speak  encouragingly  for  the  future,  my  troops 
having  manifested  a  dogged,  irreconcilable  detestation  "of  the 
country  and  the  people.  They  have  endured  much,  suffered 
much  and  cheerfully;  but  the  prevailing  discontent,  backed  up 
by  the  distinguished  valor  displayed  on  every  field,  entitles  them 
to  marked  consideration  and  indulgence. 

"These  considerations,  in  connection  with  the  scant  supply  of 
provisions  and  the  disposition  of  our  own  citizens  in  this  section 
to  depreciate  our  currency,  may  determine  me,  without  waiting 
for  instructions,  to  move  by  slow  marches  down  the  country,  both 
for  the  purpose  of  remounting  and  recruiting  our  thinned 
ranks." 

About  the  last  of  May,  General  Sibley,  much  discouraged  at 
the  lack  of  money  and  subsistence  for  his  army,  resumed  his  re- 
treat down  the  river  into  Texas,  marching  by  way  of  El  Paso  to 
San  Antonio.  Unofficial  information  of  the  intention  of  the 
government  to  reinforce  him  had  been  received,  but  it  came  too 
late  to  be  of  any  service,  as  the  safety  of  the  army,  menaced  by  a 
superior  force  of  the  enemy  and  by  starvation,  required  a  falling 
back  to  his  base  of  supplies.  Up  to  this  time  General  Sibley  had 
never,  in  answer  to  his  dispatches,  received  a  single  line  of  ac- 
knowledgment or  encouragement,  having  been  left  to  act  entirely 
upon  his  own  judgment. 

It  seems,  however,  from  official  documents  published,  that 
General  Lee  had  ordered  two  regiments  and  supplies  from  Texas 
to  Sibley.  President  Davis  refers  to  this  in  his  letter  of  congrat- 
ulation to  Sibley  (forwarded  by  Captain  Ochiltree  from  Eich- 
mond). 

After  a  few  weeks  furlough,  the  soldiers  of  this  heroic  brigade 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  407 


were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Camp  Groce,  near  Hempstead. 
This  they  did  early  in  November. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  while  the  army  was  at  Fort  Thorn, 
New  Mexico,  Col.  Jas.  Keiley64  was  sent  by  General  Sibley  upon 
a  delicate  mission  to  Chihuahua.  Colonel  Eeiley  was  an  accom- 
plished officer,  not  without  experience  in  diplomacy,  and  was 
peculiarly  fitted  for  the  duty  assigned  him. 

The  object  of  the  mission  was  to  learn  the  facts  as  to  the  al- 
leged permission  given  by  the  supreme  government  for  the  pass- 
age of  United  States  troops  through  Mexican  territory  into 
Texas;  to  get  leave  to  purchase  supplies  in  Chihuahua  for  the 
Confederate  States  army,  and  to  procure  an  agreement  under 
which  the  troops  of  either  nation,  when  in  hot  pursuit  of  hostile 
Indians,  might  cross  the  international  boundary. 

The  Confederate  envoy  was  escorted  by  Don  Carlos  Moyo  into 
the  presence  of  Don  Luis  Terrazas,  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Chihuahua,  with  the  usual  Mexican  ceremony. 

"After  a  brief  speech,  interpreted  by  Don  Carlos  Moyo,  and 
as  brief  a  one  from  the  Governor,  also  translated  to  me,"  says 
Colonel  Eeiley  in  his  report  to  General  Sibley,  "I  presented  to 
the  Governor  your  letter  of  credence.  I  was  then  formally  intro- 
duced to  the  Secretary  of  State  and  other  high  officials. 

"My  reception  by  the  Governor,  and  all  others  present,  was 
most  gracious  and  cordial.  I  beg  leave  here  to  state  that  I  had 
myself  announced  to  the  Governor  as  colonel  in  the  Confederate 

84  Colonel  Reiley  came  from  Ohio  to  Texas  about  1836  or  1837.  He 
first  settled  in  Nacogdoches,  and  later  removed  to  Houston  with  his 
amiable  and  accomplished  wife,  who  was  a  niece  of  Henry  Clay.  Reiley 
had  been  a  Whig  in  the  North,  but  he  soon  became  a  staunch  Demo- 
crat. He  was  a  fine  lawyer  and  orator,  and  ranked  equal  with  Ashbel 
Smith  and  J.  Pinckney  Henderson  as  a  diplomatist.  Growing  quickly 
into  popular  favor,  he  had  the  honor  of  representing  Harris  County  in 
the  Congress  of  1840.  Subsequently  he  served  as  Minister  of  the  Re- 
public of  Texas  at  Washington  City  with  great  credit.  In  Buchanan's 
administration  he  was  Minister  of  the  United  States  at  St.  Petersburg, 
and  represented  his  country  so  well  as  to  gain  the  public  approval  not 
only  of  the  administration  then  in  power,  but  of  his  fellow  citizens  with- 
out distinction  of  party.  In  the  civil  war  no  man  was  more  loyal  to 
Texas  and  to  the  Southern  cause  than  he,  and  when  ordered  by  Sibley 
he  cheerfully  left  the  command  of  a  regiment  in  the  field  to  undertake 
a  mission  for  which  there  seemed  to  be  no  one  so  well  qualified  as  him- 
self. 


408  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


States  army,  and  was  dressed  as  such,  being  in  the  uniform  of  a 
cavalry  officer,  Confederate  States  army,  and  wearing  my  sword. 

"His  excellency  remarked  that,  as  the  communication  was  in 
English,  a  language  he  neither  spoke  nor  read,  he  must  request 
to  have  it  translated,  so  that  he  might  be  able  to  give  it  due  and 
intelligent  consideration.  I  then  informed  him,  if  he  pleased,  I 
would  call  at  noon  the  next  day. 

"At  the  request  of  the  Governor  1  resumed  my  seat,  when  many 
inquiries  were  made  about  the  war  between  the  South  and  North, 
about  yourself,  and  the  number  and  character  of  your  troops ;  to 
all  of  which  I  trust  I  gave  satisfactory  answers. 

"Upon  taking  leave  of  the  Governor,  I  was  escorted  back  to  the 
hotel  by  Don  Carlos  Moyo.  He  remained  with  me  some  time, 
and  I  found  him  quite  a  friend  of  the  South.  To  him  I  am  in- 
debted for  much  civility  and  many  kindnesses. 

"The  next  day  at  the  appointed  time  Don  Carlos  again  called 
for  me,  and,  arriving  at  the  palace,  we  found  ourselves  not  alone 
with  the  Governor,  but  also  with  the  Secretary  of  State  and  one 
of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court.  In  a  short  time  we  were 
joined  by  Don  Joaquin  Durand,  whose  acquaintance  I  had  pre- 
viously made,  and,  although  a  Mexican,  yet  writing  and  speak- 
ing the  English  language  with  great  fluency,  having  been  edu- 
cated in  England.  He  came  there  at  my  request,  and  I  was  glad 
to  avail  myself  of  his  intelligence.  We  almost  immediately  took 
up  your  communication,  and  you  have,  general,  in  the  letter  No. 
5,  and  of  date  llth  instant,  the  result  of  that  interview. 

"In  addition  to  the  concessions  there  made  by  the  Governor,  he 
informed  me  that  'if  even  the  assent  of  the  President  had  come 
to  him,  sanctioned  by  act  of  Congress,'  he  did  not  think  he  would 
permit  Federal  troops  to  pass  through  the  territory  of  Chihuahua 
to  invade  Texas. 

"In  regard  to  the  second  point,  he  said  that  he  would  not  give 
his  official  sanction  to  the  occupancy  of  the  territory  of  his  State 
by  foreign  troops,  but  hoped  the  Apaches  on  the  frontier  would 
be  kept  quiet.  This  was  after  I  referred  him  to  the  law  of  nations 
in  regard  to  the  right  of  'hot  pursuit,'  instanced  the  invasion  of 
Shreveport,  La.,  in  November,  1838,  by  Texas  troops  when  in 
'hot  pursuit'  of  the  Caddoes,  and  stated  to  him  that  such  inva- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  409 


sion  was  not  deemed  or  treated  as  a  wrongful  one  by  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States.  .  .  . 

"As  to  the  right  to  purchase  supplies  in  Chihuahua,  embraced 
in  the  third  point,  the  Governor  assured  me  no  steps  would  be 
taken  to  prevent  it,  and,  although  the  presence  of  your  command 
would  increase  the  price  which  the  people  of  Chihuahua  would 
have  to  pay,  yet  that,  independent  of  this,  we  should  not  be  ex- 
cluded. 

"I  spent  an  evening,  by  invitation,  with  the  Governor  at  his 
private  residence,  where  I  met  many  persons,  and  dined  with  him 
at  his  brother-in-law's  (Moyo's)  next  day. 

"The  Governor  appeared  anxious  to  have  the  best  relations 
established  and  continued  between  his  State  and  the  Confederate 
States,  and  I  took  leave  of  him,  satisfied  in  my  own  mind  that  he 
would  not  break,  or  cause  to  be  broken,  the  relations  that  now 
exist.  .  .  . 

"I  have  the  pleasure  to  report  that  the  custom-house  dues  I  was 
by  you  instructed  to  have  remitted  were  ordered  by  the  Governor 
to  be  remitted,  and  the  Governor  paid  me  the  compliment  to  put 
in  my  hand  the  order  to  the  collector  of  El  Paso  to  have  the  du- 
ties remitted  and  the  bondsmen  released.  He  stated  that  at  all 
times,  whenever  necessary,  he  would  be  pleased  to  afford  protec- 
tion to  the  persons  and  property  of  the  citizens  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy. 

"Permit  me  here  again  to  congratulate  you  on  having  been  in- 
strumental in  obtaining  the  first  official  recognition  by  a  foreign 
government  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America.  All  the  credit 
due  such  an  achievement  I  trust  will  be  awarded  you." 

Colonel  Eeiley's  report  was  not  made  mitil  the  close  of  the  New 
Mexico  campaign,  nor  did  he  complete  his  negotiations  at  Chi- 
huahua in  time  to  participate  in  the  battles  fought  on  New  Mex- 
ican soil.  He,  however,  added  considerably  to  his  laurels  as  a 
capable  envoy,  and  later  found  abundant  opportunity  for  hard 
and  creditable  service  in  the  field. 


410  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-THEEE. 

Bombardment  of  Corpus  Christ!  —  General  Bee's  Report  —  Ineffectual 
Shelling  at  Port  Lavaca  —  Evacuation  of  Galveston  and  Its  Occupa- 
tion by  the  Yankees  —  Letter  from  Me  to  General  Hebert  on  the  Situ- 
ation—  Captain  Henry  S.  Lubbock  and  the  Bayou  City  —  Colonel 
Burrill,  General  Banks,  and  Military  Governor  A.  J.  Hamilton  —  Our 
New  Commander  and  His  Plans — Correspondence  —  Preparations  for 
Recapture  of  Galveston. 

At  9  a.  m.,  August  16th,  Captain  Kittredge,  commander  of  the 
Federal  fleet  before  Corpus  Christi,  approached  the  wharf  in  a 
launch  under  a  flag  of  truce. 

He  stated  that  he  had  come,  as  ordered  by  the  United  States 
government,  to  examine  the  public  buildings  in  the  city.  Every 
proposition  to  land,  under  whatever  pretext,  was  peremptorily 
rejected.  He  then  demanded  that  the  women  and  children  should 
be  removed  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town  within  twenty-four 
hours,  as  he  intended  to  land  a  force  and  execute  his  orders. 
Forty-eight  hours  were  finally  allowed  for  the  removal  of  the 
families  from  town,  which  time  was  found  amply  sufficient  for 
the  purpose.  The  Corypheus,  Eeindeer,  Bella  Italia,  and  a  steam 
gunboat  from  the  enemy's  fleet  had  taken  positions  on  the  pre- 
vious day.  The  Confederates  had  a  battery,  near  the  water's 
edge,  of  two  guns  (a  twelve  and  eigh teen-pounder)  which  was 
supported  by  Captain  (afterwards  Governor)  Ireland's  company 
and  Hobby's  battalion. 

"At  daylight  on  the  16th,"  says  Maj.  A.  M.  Hobby,  in  his  re- 
port, "we  opened  fire  on  the  enemy.  Six  shots  were  fired  on  the 
fleet  before  they  replied.  The  enemy  shelled  the  battery  and  the 
town  furiously,  doing,  however,  but  little  damage.  At  9  o'clock 
we  drove  him  from  his  position.  Beyond  the  reach  of  our  guns 
he  repaired  damages  and  mended  sails  rent  by  our  shot.  At  3 
o'clock  he  'returned,  and  when  within  reach  of  our  battery,  it 
opened  fire,  striking  both  yacht  and  steamer,  and  compelled  them 
to  withdraw  beyond  the  reach  of  our  guns.  They  contented  them- 
selves with  shelling  the  battery  during  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

"Mr.  William  Mann,  a  volunteer  commander  of  the  battery, 
greatly  distinguished  himself  by  his  skill  and  bravery.  .  .  . 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  411 


"By  guns  of  inferior  caliber  and  a  smaller  force  than  their 
own,  they  were  driven  from  their  position.  Five  shots  were  seen 
to  do  execution.  The  enemy  fired  296  times." 

Only  one  Confederate,  a  private  in  Captain  Ireland's  company, 
was  wounded. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  18th  (Monday),"  continues  the  re- 
port, "the  enemy  again  opened  on  our  battery,  bringing  his  whole 
force  to  bear  on  it.  Failing  to  silence  our  guns,  a  portion  of  his 
fleet  withdrew  and  landed  a  twelve-pounder  rifled  gun,  supported 
by  thirty  or  forty  well  armed  men,  who  approached  our  battery 
by  way  of  the  beach,  under  cover  of  a  continuous  fire  from  their 
gunboats.  They  attempted  to  enfilade  our  battery,  their  balls 
passing  just  above  our  entrenchments.  I  immediately  ordered 
twenty-five  men  to  charge  the  gun,  which  they  did  in  gallant 
style.  After  leaving  the  cover  of  our  breastworks  they  entered 
an  epen  plain  and  rapidly  neared  the  gun,  whereupon  the  gun- 
boats of  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  them.  They,  un- 
daunted, pressed  onward,  and  when  within  range  of  small  arms 
I  ordered  them  to  fire,  which  they  did,  still  advancing,  the  enemy 
in  the  meantime  retreating  in  double-quick,  carrying  with  them 
their  gun.  They  left  in  their  retreat  their  ammunition  box, 
hatchet,  and  rat-tail  files  (intended,  I  presume,  to  spike  our 
guns)  ;  a  hat  and  rifle  cartridges  were  scattered  along  the  road. 
We  chased  them  to  their  gunboats,  to  which  they  retreated  with- 
out delay.  Whenever  a  ball  from  a  battery  would  strike  the  boats 
of  the  enemy,  our  men  would  rise  and  cheer,  regardless  of  the 
fire  to  which  they  were  exposed.  The  enemy  withdrew,  and  tak- 
ing position  in  front  of  the  city,  avenged  themselves  upon  a  few 
unoffending  houses.  A  few  shots  from  our  guns  drove  them  off, 
and  on  the  following  morning  they  stood  away  for  Aransas  Pass." 
The  Confederate  loss  that  day  was  one  man,  killed  in  the  charge. 

In  September  a  second  attempt  was  made  to  capture  the  place. 
Captain  Kittredge,  commanding  the  United  States  fleet  in  Aran- 
sas Bay,  visited  Corpus  Christi  under  a  flag  of  truce,  and  asked 
leave  to  take  aboard  the  family  of  E.  J.  Davis.  Maj.  E.  F.  Gray, 
commandant  of  the  port,  referred  the  matter  to  General  Bee,  and 
informed  Lieutenant  Kittredge  that  an  answer  could  not  be  ex- 
pected under  ten  days. 

The  Federal  commander  then  withdrew  and  proceeded  with  his 


412  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ships  down  the  coast  towards  the  salt  works  on  the  Laguna  del 
Madre.  Captains  Ireland  and  Ware,  with  their  respective  com- 
panies and  one  piece  of  artillery,  were  dispatched  in  the  same 
direction  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  That  night 
Captain  Ireland  prepared  an  ambuscade  in  a  vacant  house  near 
the  shore,  off  which  the  fleet  had  anchored. 

Early  in  the  ensuing  morning  the  Federals  shelled  the  houses 
and  surrounding  points  for  some  time;  then,  the  ground  being 
apparently  unoccupied,  Lieutenant  Kittredge,  accompanied  by 
some  of  his  sailors  and  marines,  landed  and  approached  the  house. 
Our  men  being  concealed,  the  adventurous  lieutenant  fell  into 
the  trap  set  for  him,  and  he  and  his  whole  party  were  taken  pris- 
oners. As  soon  as  the  capture  was  discovered  by  the  enemy,  their 
gunboats  opened  a  rapid  fire  of  shell  and  grape  on  the  command, 
which  passed  over  our  men  and  prisoners,  but  without  damage 
to  either. 

Lieutenant  Kittredge  was  immediately  escorted  by  Major 
Hobby  to  headquarters  at  San  Antonio,  where  he  was  paroled. 
"The  capture  of  the  bold  and  energetic  leader  of  the  enemy"  was 
specially  gratifying  to  General  Bee,  who  so  expressed  himself, and 
further  stated:  "The  course  of  Lieutenant  Kittredge  while  for 
many  months  in  command  on  our  coast  has  been  that  of  an  hon- 
orable enemy,  and  as  such  he  is  entitled  to  the  consideration  due 
to  his  situation  by  the  terms  of  civilized  warfare ;"  a  declaration 
creditable  alike  to  Federal  and  Confederate. 

As  to  the  citizens,  General  Bee  has  this  to  say:  "Too  much 
praise  can  not  be  given  to  the  patriotic  citizens  of  Corpus  Christi. 
They  removed  out  into  the  woods  with  their  families,  out  of  fire, 
and  in  tents  and  under  trees  calmly  and  confidently  awaited  the 
result.  They  have  suffered  many  inconveniences  and  privations, 
especially  for  the  want  of  water,  as  the  drought  of  this  section 
has  been  unprecedented.  Yet  they  have  set  a  laudable  example 
to  their  countrymen,  and  added  another  to  the  many  instances 
of  patriotism  which  this  war  has  excited.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  the  citizens  of  surrounding  counties,  for  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  miles,  attracted  by  the  fire  of  the  cannon,  with  their 
rifles  in  hand  repaired  to  the  scene  and  tendered  their  services 
to  the  commanding  officer,  demonstrating  that  when  the  emer- 
gency arises  their  country  can  depend  on  them." 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  413 


The  earthwork  used  by  the  Confederate  battery  was  thrown 
up  by  General  Taylor  in  1845,  and  was  composed  of  shell  and 
sand,  which,  being  solid  and  impenetrable  to  thirty-two-pound 
shot,  proved  an  admirable  defense. 

Maj.  F.  Blucher,  the  distinguished  engineer  who  prepared  the 
defenses  at  Corpus  Christi,  was  a  nephew  of  Marshal  Blucher  of 
Waterloo  fame.  William  Mann,  acting  captain  of  artillery  in 
the  fight,  had  seen  service  at  Island  No.  10  on  the  Mississippi. 

Lieut.  George  E.  Conklin,  Confederate  States  army,  post  ad- 
jutant at  Lavaca,  under  date  of  November  1st,  reported  an  en- 
gagement at  that  point  between  the  Confederate  batteries  and 
part  of  the  enemy's  fleet: 

"On  the  morning  of  October  31st,"  said  he,  "two  Federal 
steamers  appeared  in  sight,  evidently  steering  for  this  place. 
About  11  a.  m.  they  arrived  within  a  short  distance,  when  they 
cast  anchor.  At  1  p.  m.  they  sent  a  boat  with  a  flag  of  truce 
on  shore,  which  was  met  by  Major  Shea,  accompanied  by  four 
citizens  of  the  town.  A  short  interview  succeeded,  during  which 
a  demand  was  made  for  the  surrender  of  the  town.  They  were 
assured  by  the  commanding  officer  that  he  was  there  to  defend  it, 
and  should  do  so  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  with  all  the  means 
he  had  at  hand.  A  demand  was  then  made  for  time  to  remove 
the  women,  children,  and  sick  persons  from  town. 

"The  officer  in  charge  of  the  flag  replied  that  one  hour  was  the 
time  he  was  authorized  to  grant ;  but,  in  consideration  of  the  fact 
that  an  epidemic  (yellow  fever)  was  still  raging  in  the  town  he 
would  extend  the  time  to  one  hour  and  a  half ;  at  the  expiration 
of  which  period  they  moved  up  abreast  the  town  and  opened  fire 
from  both  steamers  upon  both  the  town  and  batteries.  At  this 
time  there  were  many  women  and  children  still  in  the  place, 
they  having  been  unable,  for  want  of  time,  to  leave.  Our  bat- 
teries promptly  returned  the  fire.  Capt.  John  A.  Vernon  com- 
manded one  of  the  batteries,  assisted  by  Lieut.  T.  0.  Woodward ; 
and  Capt.  I.  M.  Eeuss,  assisted  by  Lieuts.  0.  L.  Schnaubel  and 
G.  French  the  other,  and  nobly  did  both  officers  and  men  per- 
form their  duty,  working  their  guns  as  coolly  as  though  on  in- 
spection, while  a  perfect  storm  of  shot  and  shell  rained  around 
them ;  and  this,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  yellow  fever  had  deci- 
mated their  ranks,  and  that  many  of  the  men  who  manned  the 


414  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


batteries  had  but  partially  recovered  from  the  fever,  entitles  them 
to  the  highest  praise.  The  steamers  were  struck  several  times, 
and  one  of  them  partially  disabled.  Whereupon  they  immedi- 
ately steamed  off  out  of  range  of  our  batteries.  When  they  cast 
anchor  again  they  opened  up  a  steady  fire  upon  the  town  and 
batteries,  which  was  continued  until  night  shut  in. 

"On  the  next  morning,  November  1st,  they  again  opened  fire 
upon  the  town  and  batteries;  but,  owing  to  their  being  entirely 
out  of  range  of  our  guns,  we  did  not  reply  to  them.  At  about  11 
a.  m.  they  ceased  their  fire  and  steamed  down  the  bay  in  the  di- 
rection of  Indianola,  having  in  tow  the  schooner  Lecompte,  which 
they  had  captured  in  the  bay  a  few  days  before.  One  of  the 
steamers  went  outside  the  bar  and  steamed  in  the  direction  of 
Galveston,  probably  for  a  mortar  boat  or  some  other  additional 
force  to  assist  them. 

"I  am  glad  to  report  that  no  lives  were  lost  on  our  side,  but 
the  enemy  succeeded  in  doing  considerable  damage  to  the  town, 
tearing  up  the  streets  and  riddling  the  houses  and  otherwise  dam- 
aging the  place.  The  enemy  fired  in  all  252  shot  and  shell,  174 
the  first  day  and  78  the  second,  nearly  all  of  them  from  thirty- 
two  and  sixty-four-pounder  rifled  guns. 

"Capt.  H.  Wilke,  acting  ordnance  officer,  rendered  very  effi- 
cient service  in  keeping  the  batteries  supplied  with  ammunition, 
and  freely  exposed  himself  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

"The  citizens  of  this  town  acted  nobly,  particularly  Mr.  Dunn 
and  Mr.  Charles  Oglesbury,  who  remained  in  the  town  and  ma- 
terially assisted  the  commanding  officer,  suffering  their  prop- 
erty to  be  destroyed  without  a  murmur,  and  only  regretting  they 
could  do  no  more  to  serve  their  country. 

"The  ladies  of  the  place,  among  whom  were  Mrs.  Chesley  and 
Mrs.  Dunn  and  the  two  beautiful  and  accomplished  daughters 
of  the  former,  bore  a  conspicuous  part,  acted  the  part  of  true 
Southern  heroines,  supplying  our  tired  soldiers  with  coffee, 
bread  and  meat,  even  during  the  thickest  of  the  fight." 

Such  defenses  as  that  described  by  Lieutenant  Conklin  fitly 
illustrate  the  character  of  the  people  of  the  Old  South — their 
sensibility  to  the  influence  of  noble  sentiments,  the  implicit  and 
unfaltering  obedience  they  yielded  to  the  calls  of  duty,  and  the 
quality  of  their  courage, — a  courage  that  was  magnanimous  and 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  416 


brilliant  in  the  hour  of  victory,  but  that  (were  it  possible)  shone 
with  added  luster  when  tested  under  circumstances  of  sickness, 
trial,  and  privation,  in  the  presence  of  a  superior  force,  and  with 
the  apparent  impending  certainty  of  defeat. 

In  the  latter  part  of  September,  1862,  the  enemy  began  to 
make  demonstrations  eastward  along  the  coast,  to  cover  their  de- 
signs upon  Galveston.  According  to  Colonel  Spaight's  report, 
two  armed  sail  vessels  and  one  steam  propeller  came  to  anchor 
September  23d  just  outside  the  bar  off  Sabine  Pass.  Early  the 
next  morning  the  two  sail  vessels,  having  crossed  the  bar,  took 
position  and  opened  fire  on  the  Confederate  works,  to  which  our 
gunners  promptly  replied;  but  the  shots  from  both  sides  fell 
short.  The  enemy  then  approached  nearer  and  a  brisk  fire  was 
opened  from  both  sides  and  continued  till  dark.  To  the  chagrin 
of  the  officers  and  men,  our  shot  still  fell  short,  while  the  enemy 
was  enabled  with  his  long  range  guns  to  throw  shot  and  shell 
around  and  into  our  works.  Our  men,  however,  stood  to  their 
guns,  occasionally  "mounting  the  works,  shouting  and  waving 
their  hats  in  defiance.'"' 

When  night  came  on,  Major  Irvine,  thinking  that  it  would  be 
a  fruitless  exposure  of  the  men  and  public  property  to  attempt 
to  hold  the  works  another  day,  began  at  once  to  move  the  ord- 
nance stores  and  other  property,  and  spiked  the  guns — consist- 
ing of  two  thirty-two  and  two  eighteen-pounders. 

All  the  government  property  was  saved;  but  two  men,  sick 
with  yellow  fever,  were  left  in  the  hospital  in  the  care  of  com- 
petent nurses.  In  a  few  days  from  that  time  the  enemy  sent  a 
party  ashore.  On  the  27th  they  ascended  Taylor's  Bayou  in  three 
launches,  fired  the  railroad  bridge  over  that  stream,  and  car- 
ried off  three  citizens,  including  the  mail  boy  there.  The  fire 
on  the  bridge  was  soon  extinguished  and  the  bridge  saved.  Next 
day  the  depot,  near  the  bridge  on  the  East  Texas  Eailroad,  was 
burned  by  the  enemy  and  our  communications  eastward  seriously 
impaired.  At  this  time  yellow  fever  and  measles  were  raging 
among  our  troops  on  the  coast. 

Saturday,  the  4th  of  October,  the  blockading  squadron  off 
Galveston  consisted  of  eight  vessels,  of  which  four  were  armed 
steamers.  Early  in  the  morning  the  Harriet  Lane  (one  of  the 
steamers)  crossed  the  bar,  flying  a  white  flag,  and  anchored  op- 


416  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


posite  Fort  Point,  having  been  brought-to  by  a  shot.  An  officer 
from  the  Harriet  Lane  having  asked  for  an  interview  with  the 
post  commandant,  Colonel  Cook,  attended  by  Captain  McKene 
and  Hon.  M.  M.  Potter,  went  out  to  meet  him,  and  were  informed 
that  the  commander  of  the  Federal  squadron  desired  a  messenger 
from  the  city  sent  out  to  him  to  receive  his  communication.  A 
messenger  was  accordingly  dispatched  on  this  mission,  under 
protection  of  a  flag  of  truce,  his  boat  putting  out  from  shore 
without  delay.  Meanwhile  the  Harriet  Lane  recrossed  the  bar 
and  communicated  with  the  fleet ;  then  all  the  steamers,  together 
with  the  mortar  boat,  came  in  over  the  bar  and  deployed  in  line 
where  the  Harriet  Lane  had  first  anchored.  A  shot  was  now 
fired  from  our  battery  across  the  course  of  the  advancing  vessels 
(our  flag  of  truce  boat  being  close  by  in  the  bay,  in  plain  view). 
The  enemy  responded  from  all  their  ships,  firing  with  about 
twenty  guns  upon  our  battery,  which  consisted  of  a  single  gun 
and  was  soon  disabled.  Thereupon  the  gun  was  spiked,  and  our 
men  fell  back  towards  the  city.  The  fleet  passed  entirely  around 
the  point  into  the  harbor,  and  continued  their  shelling  till  our 
men  retired  beyond  range.  The  two  twenty-four-pounders  con- 
stituting the  Confederate  battery  on  the  bay  side,  near  the  east 
end  of  the  city,  next  opened  fire,  but  without  effect  upon  the  ad- 
vancing ships.  Our  flag  of  truce  boat  now  coming  up,  the  firing 
ceased  and  the  messenger  was  taken  aboard  the  Federal  flag- 
ship, and  the  fleet  came  to  anchor. 

Colonel  Cook  had,  under  orders,  previously  made  his  arrange- 
ments for  evacuating  the  city,  and,  as  he  had  now  no  means  of 
defense,  he  ordered  the  two  guns  of  the  south  side  shore  battery 
to  be  spiked,  and  all  the  material  there  and  at  other  points  to  be 
taken  at  once  to  the  railroad  depot  for  shipment. 

I  had  never  ceased  to  have  apprehensions  for  the  safety  of  Gal- 
veston,  and  in  anticipation  of  the  worst  I  had  ordered  the  re- 
moval of  the  machinery  at  the  rope-walk  and  elsewhere  to  a  point 
of  security.  This  order  was  set  aside  by  the  military.  News 
having  reached  me  at  Austin,  October  8th,  of  an  expected  at- 
tack on  Galveston,  I  wrote  to  General  Hebert,  then  at  San  An- 
tonio, expressing  regret  at  his  sickness,  and  the  hope  that  he 
would  be  able  to  meet  me  at  Galveston,  where  the  enemy  were 
to  be  found.  I  set  out  at  once  for  the  coast.  At  Houston  J 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  417 


learned  of  the  evacuation  of  the  island,  and  remained  in  that 
city  till  November  1st,  advising  with  the  military  authorities  as 
to  the  proper  measures  of  defense.  In  accordance  with  General 
Hebert's  previous  orders  on  the  subject,  Col.  X.  B.  DeBray,  com- 
manding the  sub-district,  instructed  Colonel  Cook,  October  5th, 
as  follows :  "The  enemy  having  possession  of  Galveston  Bay, 
with  an  overwhelming  force  of  artillery,  you  will  avoid  making, 
within  the  city,  a  resistance  which  would  bring  about  the  de- 
struction of  the  property  of  our  citizens  without  resulting  in  any 
good  to  the  country.  You  will  move  from  the  city  to  Virginia 
Point  such  material  as  you  can  save,  and  the  troops  you  do  not 
actually  need  to  maintain  good  order  in  the  city,  so  long  as  you 
are  in  possession  of  it.  You  will  give  aid  and  assistance  to  the 
provost  marshal  in  removing  from  the  island  such  machinery  as 
can  be  removed.  You  will  cause  the  printing  presses  to  be  put 
out  of  working  order,  with  as  little  destruction  of  property  as 
possible.  You  will  cause  the  residents,  citizens  and  aliens,  to 
understand  that,  should  the  enemy  hoist  his  flag  over  the  city  of 
Galveston,  they  will  at  once  be  cut  off  from  intercourse  with  the 
continent  by  us,  and  that,  in  the  event  of  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  they  have  but  two  alternatives  left,  viz.,  abject  sub- 
mission, or  persecution  and  insult.  You  will  inform  them  that 
should  they  be  too  poor  to  provide  for  their  transportation,  the 
Confederate  States  government  will  transport  them  to  Houston 
free  of  cost.  You  will,  when  an  attack  by  the  enemy  is  immi- 
nent, withdraw  to  Virginia  Point,  leaving  two  companies  to 
garrison  Eagle  Grove,  and  endeavor  to  withdraw  without  losa 
of  men." 

"At  about  3  :30  p.  m.,"  says  Colonel  Cook,  "our  flag  of  truce 
messenger  returned  to  the  city,  bearing  a  demand  from  the 
enemy  for  the  surrender  of  the  city,  and  demanding  an  imme- 
diate answer.  I  sent  a  messenger,  with  the  answer  that  I  should 
not  surrender  the  city,  directing  the  messenger  also  to  say  to  the 
commander  of  the  fleet  that  there  were  many  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  to  demand  time  to  remove  them.  After  some  negotia- 
tion it  was  agreed  that  there  should  be  no  attack  made  upon  the 
city  for  four  days ;  that  during  that  time  we  should  not  construct 
any  new  or  strengthen  any  old  defenses  within  the  city,  and  that 
the  fleet  was  not  to  be  brought  any  nearer.  This  arrangement 
27 


418  LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


gave  us  ample  time  for  the  removal  of  all  who  desired  to  leave 
the  island,  and  also  for  the  removal  of  our  troops  and  material 
of  every  kind. 

"Meanwhile  all  four  of  the  guns  from  both  batteries  were  re- 
moved to  Virginia  Point,  and  the  people  fully  notified  of  the 
situation. 

"All  machinery  of  any  value  was  removed.  The  civil  authori- 
ties removed  all  the  county  records  of  every  kind,  and  by  noon 
of  the  8th  we  had  removed  all  the  government  property  of  any 
value,  except  the  ten-inch  gun  at  Fort  Point,  and  a  large  major- 
ity of  the  population  of  the  city  had  left  their  houses  and  the 
island." 

The  troops  were  concentrated  at  Virginia  Point,  leaving  a 
sufficient  number  to  hold  the  battery  at  the  south  end  of  the  rail- 
road bridge. 

The  evacuation  was  accomplished  according  to  the  elaborate 
instructions  given  by  Colonel  DeBray  while  he  was  on  the  island. 
Colonel  DeBray  remained  with  Colonel  Cook  for  three  days  after 
the  occupation  of  Galveston  by  the  enemy,  conferring  with  him 
and  endeavoring  to  formulate  measures  for  resisting  a  further 
advance  of  the  enemy.  On  his  departure  for  the  city  of  Hous- 
ton, Colonel  DeBray  ordered  the  commandant  to  wire  him  twice 
a  day  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  that  vicinity.  Colonel  DeBray  was 
one  of  the  hardest  fighters  in  the  Texan  army,  and  he  was  deeply 
mortified  at  having,  under  superior  orders,  to  yield  the  Island 
City  to  the  enemy  without  a  desperate  struggle. 

Wednesday  evening,  October  8th,  a  meeting  of  citizens  was 
held  in  the  city  hall  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration 
the  state  of  affairs  in  the  city  in  consequence  of  its  evacuation 
by  the  military  and  the  departure  of  the  mayor  and  a  majority  of 
the  aldermen.  The  meeting  appointed  Mr.  James  W.  Moore,  the 
oldest  magistrate  in  the  county,  mayor  pro  tern.,  and  clothed  him 
with  full  powers  for  the  enforcement  of  municipal  laws  and  po- 
lice regulations  during  the  existing  emergency.  Four  steamers 
of  the  enemy's  fleet  weighed  anchor  at  1)  a.  m.  Thursday  and 
steamed  slowly  and  cautiously  up  to  the  city,  and  at  10  a.  m.  took 
position  at  the  foot  of  the  principal  streets,  the  Harriet  Lane 
taking  an  anchorage  that  enabled  her  to  command  the  street  lead- 
ing to  the  custom-house. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  419 


About  1  p.  m.  the  commander's  flagship  fired  three  shots  to- 
wards the  west  of  the  island,  whereupon  the  mayor  pro  tern.,  ac- 
companied by  Messrs.  T.  M.  League  and  Captain  Hairland,  went 
to  the  end  of  St.  Cyr's  wharf  and  signaled  the  fleet.  They  were 
immediately  answered,  and  shortly  a  boat  was  sent  to  the  wharf 
and  took  the  party  to  the  commander's  ship.  The  mayor  re- 
quested Commander  Eenshaw  to  communicate  to  him  his  inten- 
tions in  regard  to  the  city,  informing  him,  at  the  same  time,  of 
its  abandonment  by  the  Confederate  military  authorities,  of  the 
absence  of  the  mayor  and  city  council,  and  of  his  appointment 
as  mayor  pro  tern,  by  a  meeting  of  citizens. 

Commander  Renshaw  replied  that  he  had  come  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  possession  of  the  city;  that  it  was  at  his  mercy, 
under  his  guns ;  that  he  would  not  interfere  in  municipal  affairs ; 
that  the  citizens  might  conduct  their  business  as  theretofore,  and 
that  he  did  not  intend  to  immediately  occupy  the  city  and  would 
probably  wait  until  the  arrival  of  a  Federal  military  commander. 
He  said,  however,  that  the  United  States  flag  would  at  once  be 
raised  on  public  buildings,  and  he  would  expect  the  municipal 
authorities  to  see  that  it  was  respected.  The  mayor  answered  that 
he  could  not  guarantee  protection  of  the  flag;  that  he  would  do 
everything  in  his  power,  but  that  persons  over  whom  he  had  no 
control  might  take  down  the  flag  and  create  a  difficulty. 

Finally  the  considerate  commodore  waived  this  requirement, 
stating  that  when  he  sent  the  flag  ashore  he  would  send  a  suffi- 
cient force  to  protect  it,  and  that  he  would  not  keep  the  flag  fly- 
ing for  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  a  sufficient  time  to  show 
absolute  possession.  Commodore  Renshaw  said  that  he  would 
insist  upon  the  right  of  any  of  his  men,  in  charge  of  an  officer, 
to  come  on  shore  and  walk  in  the  streets  of  the  city,  but  that  he 
would  not  permit  men  to  come  on  shore  immediately,  or  in  the 
night.  He  further  stated  that,  should  his  men  insult  citizens,  he 
gave  the  mayor  the  right  to  arrest  and  report  them  to  him,  and 
that  he  would  punish  them  more  rigidly  than  the  civil  authori- 
ties could  or  would.  On  the  other  hand,  he  declared  that,  should 
any  of  his  men  be  insulted  or  shot  at  in  the  streets  of  Galveston, 
or  any  of  his  ships  or  boats  be  shot  at  from  the  land  or  wharves, 
he  would  hold  the  city  responsible  and  open  fire  on  it  instantly; 
that  his  guns  would  be  kept  shotted  and  double-shotted  for  that 


120  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


purpose.  In  conclusion,  he  announced  that  it  was  the  deter- 
mination of  his  government  to  hold  Galveston  at  all  hazards 
until  the  end  of  the  war,  and  that  we  could  not  take  the  port 
from  him  without  a  navy. 

As  to  citizens  communicating  with  the  mainland,  Renshaw 
was  at  first  reticent,  but  finally  said  that  no  communication  what- 
ever should  be  held  by  water,  but  that  the  trains  might  run  up  to 
the  island  side  of  the  bridge,  and  freight  be  hauled  in  wagons 
from  that  point  to  the  city. 

Soon  after  the  mayor's  return,  about  150  marines  and  sailors, 
including  half  a  dozen  negroes,  landed  at  Kuhn's  wharf  and 
marched  to  the  custom-house,  and  there  raised  the  United  States 
flag.  At  the  expiration  of  about  half  an  hour  the  same  party  took 
down  the  flag  and  returned  with  it  to  the  fleet. 

In  a  letter  to  General  Hebert,  dated  October  15,  1862,  I  said : 

"I  am  happy  to  say  that  I  believe  Colonel  DeBray  is  doing 
everything  he  can  to  guard  against  the  further  encroachments 
of  the  enemy,  and  as  far  as  I  have  been  informed  of  his  move- 
ments they  meet  my  approval. 

"The  colonel  has  taken  steps  to  protect  the  approaches  to 
Houston  and  the  mainland  generally  bordering  on  Galveston 
Bay. 

"In  order  to  guard  with  any  success  those  approaches  and  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  slaves  and  the  disloyal,  a  steam  vessel,  to 
cruise  in  the  bay  as  low  down  as  Red  Fish  bar,  is  absolutely 
essential. 

"These  emergencies  have  arisen  since  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you  at  San  Antonio.  Colonel  DeBray  has  written  you,  I 
presume,  in  regard  to  the  purchase  or  charter  of  the  boat  belong- 
ing to  the  State ;  she  is  the  only  vessel  calculated  for  the  services 
needed  that  can  be  had.  Let  me  urge  you  either  to  take  the  ves- 
sel at  cost,  or  that  you  authorize  Colonel  DeBray  to  charter  her 
until  her  services  are  no  longer  required. 

"The  State  is  not  in  condition  to  keep  her  in  commission,  and 
as  she  is  really  re-quired  by  and  is  now  in  the  service  of  the  Con- 
federate government,  I  trust  you  will  find  it  proper  to  so  con- 
tinue her. 

"The  cutter  Dodge  is  lying  perfectly  useless  in  the  San  Jacinto 
River,  in  a  dismantled  condition.  She  draws  too  much  water  to 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  421 


be  of  any  use  in  the  upper  bay,  and  I  trust  you  will  order  her 
armament,  munitions,  etc.,  to  be  placed  in  the  service,  where  they 
can  be  of  some  use. 

"I  am  told  there  is  a  very  good  crew  under  pay  on  board  of 
her.  In  God's  name,  what  does  a  vessel  not  intended  to  be  used 
need  with  a  crew? 

"I  wish  you  would  come  down,  or  send  General  Bee  to  this 
point.  We  may  have  stirring  times  here,  and  although,  as  I  said 
at  the  outset,  Colonel  DeBray  is  an  efficient  and  energetic  officer, 
the  people  would  feel,  perhaps,  better  satisfied  if  importance 
enough  was  attached  to  the  movements  of  the  enemy  to  call  a 
general  to  the  scene  of  operations." 

Next  day  (October  16th)  I  wrote  to  Commander  W.  W.  Hun- 
ter, of  the  Confederate  navy : 

"I  have  ordered  Capt.  H.  S.  Lubbock  to  repair  with  his  vessel, 
the  Bayou  City,  to  Eed  Fish  bar,  to  watch  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  to  render  aid  in  completing  obstructions  authorized 
to  be  made  by  Col.  X.  B.  DeBray,  commanding  sub-district  of 
Houston.  This  vessel  is  very  poorly  provided,  and  I  find  it  im- 
possible to  procure  the  munitions,  boats,  etc.,  needed  by  Captain 
Lubbock.  Let  me  beg  of  you,  my  dear  sir,  to  furnish  him  with 
what  you  can  spare  that  will  be  of  benefit  to  the  service.  He  is 
fully  empowered  to  receipt  to  you  for  what  he  receives,  and  I 
will  agree  to  return  them  to  you  when  required. 

"It  is  impossible  to  know  what  the  intentions  of  the  enemy 
may  be,  and  it  is  all  important  that  there  should  be  a  proper 
lookout  kept  up. 

"Unless  the  vessel  is  provided  with  some  means  of  defense, 
she  can  be  of  but  little  service." 

On  November  12th  Capt.  Henry  S.  Lubbock  advised  (by  let- 
ter) the  Military  Board  of  the  sale  of  the  State  steamer  Bayou 
City  to  the  Confederate  States  government  for  $50,000. 

Colonel  DeBray  promptly  reported  to  General  Hebert  what  he 
was  doing  to  keep  the  enemy  confined  to  the  city  of  Galveston, 
to  protect  the  coast  at  other  points,  to  perfect  a  mule  express  to 
San  Antonio,  and  to  obstruct  the  rivers  and  bayous  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  penetrating  the  country.  My  brother,  Capt.  Wm. 
M.  Lubbock,  was  one  of  the  officers  to  assist  in  that  important 
service. 


422  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


In  a  postscript  to  a  letter  to  General  Hebert,  Colonel  DeBray 
says,  under  date  of  October  15th: 

"His  Excellency  Governor  Lubbock  is  here.  I  enclose  to  you 
his  proclamation  ratifying  my  order  cutting  off  intercourse  with 
Galveston." 

Some  interested  parties  severely  commented  upon  this  action, 
but  it  was  the  only  course  to  pursue. 

Col.  Isaac  S.  Burrill,  of  the  Forty-second  Massachusetts  vol- 
unteers, reporting  to  General  Banks,  says :  "Upon  arriving  at 
this  place  (Galveston)  on  the  24th  of  December,  1862,  .  .  . 
I  landed  the  three  companies  of  my  command,  which  were  with 
me  upon  the  transport  Saxon,  on  the  end  of  Kuhn's  wharf,  and 
quartered  them  in  the  warehouse  there.  I  have  taken  possession 
of  the  city  as  boldly  as  I  could  with  the  small  force  at  my  com- 
mand, and  have  thoroughly  reconnoitered  the  island  up  to  within 
range  of  their  battery  at  Eagle  Grove,  which  is  apparently  well 
built,  mounting  three  guns.  They  have  also  one  gun  at  the  draw, 
which  is  about  midway  of  the  bridge.  Upon  Virginia  Point  they 
have  a  strong  battery,  mounted  with  heavy  guns.  From  the  best 
information  obtainable,  I  judge  their  force  in  this  immediate 
vicinity  to  be  about  2000  strong. 

"During  the  day  we  control  the  city,  but  at  night,  owing  to 
our  small  force  (as  the  balance  of  my  regiment  has  not  yet  ar- 
rived), I  am  obliged  to  draw  in  the  pickets  to  the  wharf  on 
which  we  are  quartered. 

"I  think  there  are  still  on  the  island  about  3000  persons,64  a 
large  proportion  of  whom  are  women  and  children.  A  great 
many  of  these  people  are  almost  entirely  destitute  of  the  means 
of  subsistence,  as  the  enemy  will  not  allow  anything  to  be 
brought  over  from  the  mainland,  thinking,  doubtless,  to  make 
them  disloyal  by  starvation.  The  naval  officer  in  command  has 
contributed  all  he  could  spare  from  his  stores,  and  my  men  have 
shared  their  bread  rations  with  them.  I  believe  the  larger  part  of 
the  residents  now  here  to  be  loyal  and  really  desire  to  remain  in 
the  city,  and  that  common  humanity  calls  upon  us  to  render 

84  Ten  days  before  Colonel  Bun-ill's  arrival  about  one  hundred  half- 
starved  renegades  and  negroes  sailed  to  New  Orleans  on  the  bark 
Island  City.  Flour  was  then  selling  at  $80  a  barrel  and  wood  at  $20  a 
cord. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


423 


them  assistance.  This,  in  my  judgment,  can  best  be  done  by 
placing  the  city  under  martial  law,  as  soon  as  my  force  is  large 
enough,  and  forcing  the  rich,  who  are  mainly  the  secessionists, 
to  feed  the  poor.  I  would  most  respectfully  urge  upon  your  con- 
sideration the  necessity  of  sending  provisions  for  immediate  re- 
lief. These  can  be  sold  to  them  at  government  prices,  thus  con- 
ferring a  real  charity,  without  subjecting  them  to  the  mortifica- 
tion of  being  beggars.'* 


GEN.  J.  BA.NKHEAD  MAGRUDEK,  C.8.A. 


General  Banks  about  this  time  notified  Colonel  Burrill  that 
Gen.  A.  J.  Hamilton  had  been  appointed  Governor  of  Texas, 
would  arrive  shortly  at  Galveston,  and  must  be  respected  as  such. 
Banks  informed  Burrill  that,  with  no  military  movements  in 


424  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


immediate  view,  Galveston  would  be  held  principally  as  a  recruit- 
ing station  for  the  United  States  army,  and  enjoined  on  him  the 
exercise  of  prudence. 

In  response  to  the  general  desire  for  a  change  of  military  com- 
manders in  Texas,  the  Confederate  States  government  finally 
sent  us  Gen.  J.  Bankhead  Magruder,  of  Virginia.  November  29, 
1862,  immediately  after  General  Magruder  s  arrival  at  Houston, 
I  addressed  a  letter  to  Colonel  DeBray,  thus  expressing  my  views 
on  public  matters: 

"I  learn  to-day  that  General  Magruder  has  arrived  at  Hous- 
ton. I  am  anxious  to  see  him,  but  it  is  not  convenient  at  this 
date  for  me  to  leave  the  capital. 

"I  do  hope,  colonel,  that  the  general  will  take  prompt  and  de- 
cisive measures  for  the  protection  of  the  State.  He  should  de- 
termine, as  speedily  as  possible,  what  is  required  that  can  not  be 
supplied  within  his  command,  and  insist  upon  it  being  sent  to 
him. 

"I  feel  assured  we  can  furnish  the  soldiers,  if  the  means  of 
arming  and  equipping  them  can  be  obtained. 

"I  trust  you  are  getting  along  well  with  the  obstructions  along 
the  bay  and  in  the  rivers.  Let  me  beg  that,  after  getting  through 
with  the  obstructions  at  Clopper's  bar,  you  will  try  and  obstruct 
Eed  Fish.  If  it  is  practicable,  and  can  be  done  speedily,  it  would 
insure  the  safety  of  the  Trinity. 

"Colonel,  can  we  not  do  something  at  Galveston  ?  If  you  could 
devise  a  plan  whereby  you  could  drive  those  fellows  from  the 
wharves  of  the  city  and  occupy  the  place,  with  the  sanction  of 
General  Magruder,  it  would  make  you  a  name  and  do  much  to 
raise  the  spirits  of  our  people.  I  will  most  cheerfully  co-operate 
with  you  in  such  an  undertaking,  and  will  accompany  you  on  any 
expedition  that  you  may  get  up -for  such  a  purpose. 

"I  think,  if  it  is  possible,  we  should  repossess  the  place. 

"I  trust  you  will  use  every  exertion  to  relieve  any  good  men 
that  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  that  you  will 
retain  all  prisoners  taken  by  you  until  our  citizens  are  released. 

"I  am  arranging  the  papers  relative  to  the  transfer  of  the 
steamer  Bayou  City,  and  will  send  them  by  next  mail." 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  425 


The  second  day  after  his  arrival,  General  Magruder65  assumed 
command  of  the  District  of  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizona, 
and  issued  an  order,  from  his  temporary  headquarters  at  Hous- 
ton, directing  all  subordinate  officers  to  forward  to  him  at  once 
field  returns  of  the  troops  under  their  command.  The  quarter- 
masters, commissaries,  and  other  officers  in  charge  of  military 
stores  and  subsistence,  who  had  served  under  General  Hebert, 
were  ordered  to  forward  reports,  without  delay,  to  department 
headquarters.  The  commander  of  Sibley's  brigade  was  directed 
to  report,  by  letter,  the  number  and  condition  of  his  troops,  and 
how  armed.  Immediate  reports  from  the  conscript  officers  were 
also  called  for.  These  various  orders  were  promptly  obeyed. 
New  life  seemed  infused  into  the  department.  It  soon  became 
evident  that  a  firm  and  skillful  hand  was  at  the  helm  of  military 
affairs  in  Texas,  and  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  people 
rose  accordingly.  . 

General  Magruder's  staff  was  made-up  as  follows:  Maj.  A.  G. 
Dickinson  and  Capt.  E.  P.  Turner,  adjutant  inspector-general's 
department;  Maj.  B.  Bloomfield,  quartermaster's  department; 
E.  B.  Pendleton,  commissary  department ;  J.  B.  Eustis,  ordnance 
officer,  and  Lieuts.  Geo.  A.  Magruder  and  H.  M.  Stanard,  aides- 
de-camp. 

December  1st  General  Magruder  informed  General  Cooper 
(at  Richmond),  adjutant  and  inspector-general  of  the  armies  of 

65  John  Bankhead  Magruder  was  born  in  Winchester,  Va.,  August 
15,  1810.  He  graduated  from  West  Point  in  1830;  was  brevetted  major 
for  gallantry  at  Cerro  Gordo,  and  lieutenant-colonel  at  Chapultepec, 
where  he  was  severely  wounded;  resigned  his  commission  (that  of  cap- 
tain of  artillery)  in  the  United  States  army,  and  entered  that  of  the 
Confederacy;  was  made  brigadier-general  after  gaining  the  battle  of 
Big  Bethel,  Va. ;  was  placed  in  command  of  the  peninsula  and  for 
several  weeks  successfully  opposed  the  forward  march  of  the  Union 
army;  was  then  promoted  to  major-general;  took  part  in  the  seven  days 
fighting  around  Richmond,  especially  distinguishing  himself  in  the 
battle  of  Malvern  Hill;  October  10,  1862,  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
Department  of  Texas,  and  so  continued  until  the  close  of  the  war;  after 
the  fall  of  the  Confederacy  entered  the  army  of  Maximilian  in  Mexico, 
with  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  after  the  downfall  and  execution  of 
the  ill-fated  emperor  returned  to  the  United  States;  lectured  in  Balti- 
more and  other  cities,  and  in  1869  made  his  home  in  Houston,  Texas, 
where  he  died  February  19,  1871.  His  remains  are  interred  at  Galves- 
ton  and  the  spot  marked  by  a  handsome  monument. — ED. 


426  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  Confederacy,  of  the  sailing  of  the  Banks  expedition  from 
New  York  for  Texas,  and  requested  an  order  from  him  for  two 
batteries  of  light  artillery,  then  at  Columbus,  Miss. 

In  view  of  the  expected  invasion,  I  wrote  General  Magruder 
December  6th: 

"The  Confederate  States  troops  at  this  time  within  the  State, 
and  the  State  troops,  are  probably  sufficient  for  its  defense;  but 
they  are  all  of  them  to  some  extent,  and  some  of  them  wholly, 
destitute  of  arms.  Baylor's  command  is  without  any  arms  at 
all.  The  brigade  known  as  Sibley's,  who  may  now  be  considered 
as  veterans,  are  not  half  armed;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of 
every  other  regiment  in  the  State.  ...  I  have  not  thought 
it  out  of  my  line  of  duty  to  urge  upon  you,  and  through  you  on 
the  War  Department,  the  wants  of  our  State,  and  the  importance 
of  their  being  promptly  supplied.  At  least  15,000  stand  of  arms 
are  needed  to  equip  fully  the  forces  in  the  State  and  the  new 
levies  about  to  be  raised.  .  .  .  I  do  not  think  that  I  over- 
estimate the  importance  of  Texas  to  the  Confederacy,  or  the 
interest  the  government  should  feel  in  preventing  its  being  over- 
run by  the  enemy.  Almost  all  the  only  sure  trade  and  communi- 
cation between  the  Confederacy  and  the  outside  world  is  through 
her  western  frontier  into  Mexico.  Her  wheat  fields  and  her  hog 
and  cattle  ranches  contribute  largely  to  feed  the  armies ;  her  wool 
and  her  cotton  factories  clothe  them,  in  part ;  her  sons  have  not 
been  behind  the  foremost  at  the  call  of  duty,  and  have  poured 
their  blood,  like  water,  upon  the  battlefields  of  liberty.  She  de- 
serves a  better  fate  at  the  hands  of  the  authorities  than  to  be  left, 
with  the  old  men  and  boys,  to  defend  herself,  while  denied  the 
means  of  effectually  doing  it." 

Whereupon  the  General,  without  delay,  wrote  General  Holmes 
(at  Little  Rock),  commander  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Depart- 
ment: 

"A  large  expedition,  under  General  Banks,  will  arrive  at  Gal- 
veston  probably  in  a  few  days.  I  find  the  coast  and  Rio  Grande 
given  up.  With  my  troops  well  armed,  I  might  recover  im- 
portant points  on  the  coast,  and  probably  save  the  Rio  Grande, 
so  necessary  to  us.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  can  not  but 
concur  in  the  opinion  of  the  Governor  of  Texas  as  to  the  necessity 
of  keeping  some  well-armed  troops." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  427 


In  response  to  this  communication,  Col.  Chas.  De  Morse's 
regiment  (Twenty-ninth  cavalry),  then  under  orders  for  Fort 
Smith,  was  retained  in  Texas.  My  letter  to  General  Magruder 
was  enclosed  in  this  communication  to  General  Holmes. 

An  invasion  was  expected  by  way  of  the  coast  or  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  Magruder  left  no  stone  unturned  in  making  prepa- 
rations to  meet  it.  On  the  9th  he  again  addressed  General 
Cooper,  saying:  "In  Baylor's  command  of  about  500  men  only 
fifty-five  are  armed  at  all.  I  have  only  1000  Enfield  rifles  and 
about  200  small  arms  to  issue,"  and  concluding  with  a  requisi- 
tion for  12,000  stand  of  arms,  three  batteries  of  rifled  cannon, 
and  three  batteries  of  smooth-bore  guns.  General  Magruder 
had  won  his  spurs  in  Mexico  in  1846-7  as  commander  of  field 
batteries,  and  his  desire  for  proper  equipment  in  that  arm  was 
not  surprising. 

The  General  also  addressed  Jas.  H.  Seddon,  Secretary  of  War, 
as  follows : 

"I  can  not  ask  too  urgently  your  attention  to  the  enclosed  let- 
ter of  Governor  Lubbock  as  to  the  pressing  need  of  arms  for  the 
troops  necessary  for  the  defense  of  this  State.  Texas,  though 
she  has  stripped  herself  of  her  young  men,  who  are  nobly  fight- 
ing the  battles  of  the  Confederacy  beyond  her  limits,  needs  but 
arms  in  the  hands  of  her  warlike  and  veteran  pioneers,  who  have 
remained  at  home,  to  enable  her  to  defend  her  soil  successfully ; 
but  these  arms  she  has  not.  All  the  rifles  and  shotguns,  at  one 
time  in  the  hands  of  her  citizens,  have  been  sent  with  her  troops 
to  the  army  elsewhere,  and  she  is  now  absolutely  without  any 
whatever,  except  the  few  with  which  the  troops  in  the  field  here 
are  badly  armed."  He  closed  by  repeating  his  requisition  for 
12,000  stand  of  arms,  with  ammunition,  and  the  light  batteries. 
He  wrote  to  General  Holmes  on  December  19th :  "I  had  ordered 
Sibley's  brigade  to  Harrisburg  ...  to  protect  the  coast 
and  the  railway,  the  latter  absolutely  vital.  .  .  .  There  are 
not  more  than  6000  men  armed  in  all  Texas.  There  ought  to  be 
that  number  alone  on  the  Rio  Grande.  I  was  about  to  send  an 
expedition  there  to  regain  the  frontier;  but  if  Sibley's  brigade 
and  Stone's  and  Gurley's  regiments  are  taken  from  me  I  will  not 
be  able  to  do  so.  I  beg,  therefore,  that  the  order  alluded  to  by 


428  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


you,   for  these  troops   to   proceed   to   Vicksburg,   be   counter- 
manded." 

A  day  of  two  later,  having  learned  more  of  the  contemplated 
invasion  of  Texas,  Magruder  repeated  his  request  for  the  reten- 
tion of  Sibley's  brigade  in  the  State,  saying  as  to  expected  in- 
vasion: "I  am  by  no  means  prepared  [to  meet  it. — ED.]  by  rea- 
son of  the  disorder  and  want  of  organization  which  prevails  here 
on  account  of  the  removal  of  troops  from  this  district. 
It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  me  to  say  that  great  dissatisfaction 
exists  in  this  State  at  the  removal  of  armed  troops  from  its  lim- 
its, and  the  retention  of  those  only  who  are  unarmed." 

The  order  for  their  withdrawal  was  not  countermanded;  but 
before  their  preparations  to  march  were  completed  Magruder 
planned,  fought,  and  won  the  battle  of  Galveston,  Sibley's  bri- 
gade taking  an  honorable  and  glorious  part  in  the  engagement. 
On  the  same  day  that  Magruder  preferred  his  last  request,  he 
wrote  to  me  as  follows :  "In  view  of  the  diminution  of  our  forces 
by  the  removal  of  the  above  mentioned  troops  from  this  State, 
and  of  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  forces  momentarily  expected, 
I  have  to  request  that  you  will  call  out  at  once  all  the  militia 
which  the  State  can  possibly  arm,  and  cause  them  to  rendezvous 
at  Harrisburg." 

As  to  this  requisition,  I  did  not  consider  it  a  new  call  for 
troops,  but  only  for  a  rapid  concentration  of  forces  organizing 
under  Hebert's  last  call.  The  necessary  orders  for  that  purpose 
were  accordingly  given,  and  Colonel  Keiley,  commanding  Sibley's 
brigade,  speedily  massed  the  troops  at  Harrisburg.  Old  Harris- 
burg,  now  full  of  soldiers,  presented  a  more  warlike  appearance 
than  when  the  Texan  government  officials  were  fleeing  before 
the  legions  of  Santa  Anna  in  1836. 

Magruder,  on  December  20th,  issued  an  address  to  the  people, 
exhorting  them  to  fight  to  the  last  extremity,  and  showing,  by 
a  review  of  Butler's  rule  in  Louisiana,  that  no  submission,  how- 
ever abject,  would  save  them  frcm  insult  and  spoliation  of  prop- 
erty, if  the  enemy  were  permitted  to  once  gain  control  of  the 
State.  "The  line  of  seaboard,  from  the  Sabine  to  the  Colorado," 
said  he,  "must  be  held  at  all  hazards."  He  said  that  General 
Banks  had  landed  at  New  Orleans  with  20,000  men,  and  would 
almost  certainly  advance  on  Texas.  And  as  to  the  duty  of  all 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  429 


Texans,  under  the  circumstances,  he  said :  "Texans,  need  I  tell 
you  what  reception  to  give  these  men  ?  Wait  not  for  orders,  but 
attack  them  at  once,  and  furiously,  wherever  they  shall  be 
found."  A  sentiment,  this,  worthy  of  ancient  Home  in  her 
palmiest  days. 

The  coast  country  designated  was  marked  on  the  north  by  the 
railway  line  from  Orange,  on  the  Sabine,  to  Columbia,  on  the 
Brazos,  and  thence  by  a  straight  line  to  Texana,  Victoria,  and 
Refugio.  All  negroes  were  ordered  removed  from  this  district, 
and  all  surplus  corn  found  there  collected,  paid  for,  and  brought 
in  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

Under  Magruder's  orders  all  cotton,  tobacco,  and  property  of 
every  kind  in  the  coast  country  was  to  be  destroyed  whenever  it 
became  necessary  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  en- 
emy. This  was  an  outlining  of  desperate  measures,  but  his  plans 
were  the  outgrowth  of  and  justified  by  necessity,  and  were  sanc- 
tioned both  by  military  law  and  the  laws  of  his  country.  Had 
such  sacrifices  become  necessary  the  people  would  have  cheerfully 
made  them.  Happily,  however,  Magruder  did  not  find  it  neces- 
sary in  Texas  to  practice  the  Russian  plan  of  defense,  viz.,  de- 
stroy everything  before  an  invader. 

Consulting  Engineer  C.  G.  Forshey,  on  Christmas  day,  after 
due  exploration  of  Galveston  Bay  and  adjacent  waters,  and  con- 
sultation with  General  Magruder,  thus  wrote  Colonel  De  Bray, 
commanding  at  Virginia  Point : 

"General  Magruder  directs  that  you  summon  Capt.  Leon 
Smith,  and  direct  him  to  prepare  the  Bayou  City  for  service  im- 
mediately; to  put  a  platform  on  the  boat  for  the  thirty-two- 
pounder  rifled  cannon,  which  will  be  sent  to  Harrisburg  to-mor- 
row ;  to  prepare  the  Neptune  in  like  manner  for  the  two  twenty- 
four-pounder  howitzers,  now  at  Harrisburg.  He  will  use  cotton 
on  the  decks  of  both  to  give  the  appearance  of  protection,  and 
not  wait  to  fasten  it,  if  it  costs  time.  For  this  purpose  he  will 
use  all  the  mechanics  and  other  force  that  can  be  worked  with 
advantage,  taking  the  material  and  property  needed  by  seizing  it, 
if  necessary.  .  .  .  He  will  call  for  150  volunteers  for  each 
boat,  taking  citizens  and  soldiers  from  all  quarters.  .  .  .  He 
will  use  the  small  arms  already  given  him.  .  .  .  He  will  be 


430  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


ready  to  move  at  noon  day  after  to-morrow  to  take  part  in  an  at- 
tack upon  the  fleet,  if  things  do  not  change.  .  .  .  The  cox- 
swain of  the  Owasco,  a  deserter,  says  the  fleet  can  be  easily  driven 
out  of  the  harbor,  and  he  is  anxious  to  take  part  and  lead  a  cot- 
ton boat  in  the  fight.  .  .  .  He  will  not  prove  false;  if  he 
does,  he  dies.  He  wishes  to  serve  the  gun  himself.  Take  him 
on  board,  but  do  not  let  him  go  near  the  gun.  Treat  him  kindly, 
and  let  him  remain  near  the  captain.  Take  any  man's  cotton, 
unless  it  can  be  bought.  I  prefer  Major  Smith  to  go  in  com- 
mand of  both  boats.  .  .  .  Keep  the  coxswain,  Monroe,  from 
liquor.  Colonel  De  Bray  will  order  down  such  unarmed  men  of 
Sibley's  brigade  as  can  be  spared.  Captain  Good  has  still  some 
Mississippi  rifles,  or  other  small  arms,  on  hand.  Let  him  issue 
them  to  Major  Smith,  to  arm  his  vessel.  Tell  the  editors  of 
papers  not  to  publish  a  word  as  to  army  movements  in  this  State. 
Colonel  De  Bray  will  be  sent  for,  if  there  is  a  fight.  Send  the 
message  to  Colonel  Hardeman  at  Columbus,  and  no  farther." 

On  the  same  day  General  Magruder,  then  at  Virginia  Point, 
wrote  to  Major  Shea,  at  Lavaca,  to  burn  the  railroad  ties  at  In- 
dianola  and  Lavaca;  move  a  cavalry  battalion,  without  their 
horses,  from  near  Victoria  to  Lavaca,  and  burn  or  destroy  the 
lighthouses  at  Saluria  and  Pass  Cavallo,  and  all  the  houses  at 
Pass  Cavallo,  if  practicable.  He  also  wrote  to  Major  Hobby,  at 
Corpus  Christi,  instructing  him  to  destroy  the  lighthouse  at 
Aransas,  and  to  Colonel  Buchel,  near  Brownsville,  to  destroy  the 
lighthouse  on  Padre  Island. 

I  had  managed  about  the  middle  of  December  to  visit  Houston, 
and  there,  for  the  first  time,  met  General  Magruder.  We  had  a 
long  and  satisfactory  conference  over  the  situation  and  needs 
of  the  State.  It  was  gratifying  to  me  to  find  in  General  Ma- 
gruder the  characteristics  of  a  true  patriot,  a  courteous  gentle- 
man, and  a  gallant  soldier.  My  views  had  already  been  given 
him  in  extenso  in  my  letter  of  December  6th.  I  cordially  ap- 
proved his  plan  to  recapture  Galveston,  and  it  was  the  under- 
standing that  I  should  accompany  him  when  he  was  ready  for 
the  enterprise.  Meanwhile,  I  had  to  return  to  the  capital  on 
pressing  official  business;  and  on  my  arrival  at  Austin  was  con- 
fined to  my  bed  with  a  severe  attack  of  inflammatory  rheuma- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  431 


tism,  the  result  of  cold66  contracted  the  night  before  I  left  Hous- 
ton. My  physician  was  summoned  without  delay,  and  he  per- 
emptorily forbade  my  leaving  the  house  for  a  couple  of  weeks. 
Thus  I  lost  the  opportunity  of  sharing  the  dangers  and  glory 
of  the  victory  at  Galveston.  Captain  Turner,  Magruder's  chief 
of  staff,  knowing,  perhaps,  my  helpless  condition,  did  not  even 
notify  me  (although  he  had  promised  to  do  so)  when  everything 
was  ready. 


69  Caused  by  exposure  on  the  wet  and  muddy  streets,  on  being  aroused 
from  sleep  to  quell  a  riot  at  the  jail,  excited  by  a  crowd  of  soldiers  clam- 
oring for  the  release  of  a  popular  comrade. 


432  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-FOUR. 

Battle  of  Galveston — General  Magruder  Leads  the  Land  Forces  in  Per- 
son and  Commodore  Smith  Commands  the  Cotton-Glads  —  A  Glorious 
Victory —  Official  Reports  from  Both  Sides  — The  Blockade  Raised  — 
General  Magruder  Congratulated  by  General  Houston  and  Others  — 
Naval  Attack  on  Galveston  —  The  Alabama  —  The  Hatteras  Sunk  — 
Battle  Off  Sabine  Pass  and  Confederate  Victory —  Magruder's  Reports 
and  Recommendations  —  Results  of  the  Month's  Campaign. 

A  combined  attack  upon  Galveston  by  land  and  sea  was  Ma- 
gruder's plan.  Finally  all  the  preparations  were  completed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  December,  1862,  he  assigned 
Capt.  Leon  Smith67  to  the  command  of  the  Confederate  flo- 
tilla on  Buffalo  Bayou,  consisting  of  the  steamboats  Bayou  City 
and  Neptune,  and  the  tenders  John  Carr  and  Lucy  Gwinn.  Com- 
modore Smith  was  an  experienced  naval  officer,  and  had  already 
rendered  good  service  for  Texas  at  Indianola  and  elsewhere. 
Smith's  promotion  to  so  important  a  command  at  this  time  was 
therefore  a  deserved  recognition  of  merit,  amply  justified  by  Ms 
subsequent  career. 

The  cavalry  regiments  of  Colonels  Tom  Green  and  A.  P. 
Bagby  furnished  the  volunteers  (300  in  number)  needed  as  ma- 
rines. Colonel  Green,  on  the  Bayou  City,  was  the  ranking  army 
officer,  and  commanded  all  the  land  forces  on  the  steamers.  Col- 
onel Bagby  was  the  immediate  commander  of  the  troops  on  the 
Neptune,  which. also  had  on  board  an  artillery  company  under 
Lieutenant  Harby. 

-f 

• 7  Leon  Smith  was  born  in  Alfred,  Maine;  went  to  sea  at  thirteen, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty  commanded  the  United  States  mail  steamship 
Pacific,  running  between  San  Francisco  and  Panama;  was  later  commo- 
dore of  the  Morgan  line  of  steamships  running  from  New  Yorft  to  Gal- 
veston; was  commander  of  the  Rusk  at  the  beginning  of  the  war;  won 
distinction  as  a  Confederate  naval  officer  by  his  skill  and  bravery  in  the 
capture  of  the  Star  of  the  West,  and  able  and  gallant  services  on  other 
occasions;  and  after  coming  out  of  the  war  unscathed  and  with  honor 
bright,  was  basely  murdered  by  an  Indian  at  Fort  Wrangle,  Alaska,  in 
December,  1869.  His  body  was  brought  to  Texas,  and  has  since  rested 
in  the  city  cemetery  at  Houston.  Commodore  Smith  was  undoubtedly 
the  ablest  Confederate  naval  commander  in  the  Gulf  waters.  — ED. 


LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


433 


The  Carr,  Captain  Lawson,  had  on  board  one  company  of  in- 
fantry, and  the  Lucy  Gwinn  was  simply  used  as  a  hospital  boat. 
Nearly  all  the  troops  were  veterans  of  Sibley's  brigade  and  in- 
ferior to  none  in  the  Confederate  service.  As  a  protection  to 
the  pipes  and  engines,  cotton  bales  were  placed  across  the  for- 
ward decks  and  on  the  guards.  Vessels  so  defended  were  then 
and  afterwards  very  properly  designated  as  "cotton-clads." 


COMMODORE  LEON  SMITH,  C.S.N. 


Later  in  the  afternoon  General  Magruder  and  staff  boarded 
the  cars  at  Houston  for  the  coast.  At  Sunset  Station  the  gen- 
eral dispatched  a  courier  to  Morgan's  Point  with  orders  to  Com- 
modore Smith  to  proceed  with  his  fleet  to  the  upper  part  of  Gal- 
veston  Bay,  and  there  wait  until  the  sound  of  cannon  announced 
that  the  land  attack  had  begun,  and  then  immediately  engage 
the  Yankee  vessels  in  the  harbor. 

At  dusk.  General  Magruder  and  suite  arrived  at  Virginia 
Point,  the  rendezvous  of  the  land  troops. 

The  army  at  once  began  to  move  across  the  bridge  to  the  island. 
28 


434  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


A  slight  delay  was  caused  by  the  mules  hitched  to  the  guns  prov- 
ing refractory  and  refusing  to  go  upon  the  bridge.  The  animals 
were  quickly  unharnessed,  and  some  of  Elmore's  men  drew  the 
artillery  over.  With  fifteen  or  twenty  pieces  of  cannon,  including 
six  siege  guns,  the  march  of  the  army  was  necessarily  slow. 

Magruder  had,  a  few  nights  before,  with  eighty  picked  men, 
entered  the  city  of  Galveston  and  made  a  thorough  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  ground  and  the  position  of  the  enemy. 

The  Yankees,  about  300  strong,  were  stationed  at  the  end  of 
a  long  wharf,  crowded  into  large  buildings,  the  entire  position 
well  covered  by  the  guns  of  the  steamships,  and  the  approaches 
guarded  by  two  lines  of  strong  barricades.  Communication  from 
the  shore  was  rendered  difficult  by  the  removal  of  portions  of 
the  wharf  in  front  of  the  barricades.  It  would  be  necessary  for 
an  attacking  party  to  wade  through  the  water  to  reach  the  wharf, 
and  to  devise  some  means  to  mount  upon  it  when  reached.  For 
the  latter  purpose  Magruder  distributed  fifty  scaling-ladders 
among  the  men  of  the  storming  party.  Most  of  the  cannon,  to- 
gether with  a  railroad-ram  armed  with  an  eight-inch  Dahlgren, 
were  transported  along  the  railroad  track  to  within  a  convenient 
distance  of  the  enemy. 

The  most  impartant  objective  point  to  be  carried  was  Fort 
Point,  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor.  The  plan  was  for  Captain 
Fontaine  (of  Cook's  regiment),  with  six  companies  of  Pyron's 
regiment,  to  lead  the  attack  on  this  position,  while  Wilson's  bat- 
tery of  six  pieces  opened  on  the  enemy  from  the  Center  wharf, 
and  Colonel  Cook,  with  500  men  and  the  scaling-ladders,  stormed 
the  wharf  on  which  the  enemy's  land  forces  were  barricaded. 

"Leading  the  center  assault  in  person,  I  approached  within 
two  squares  of  the  wharves,"  says  General  Magruder,  "at  which 
point  I  directed  the  horses  of  the  field  pieces  to  be  removed  from 
them  and  placed  behind  some  brick  buildings  for  shelter  from  the 
anticipated  discharges  of  grape  and  canister.  After  allowing  the 
lapse  of  what  turned  out  to  be  ample  time  for  Captain  Fontaine 
to  reach  and  occupy  his  more  distant  position,  the  guns  were 
placed  along  a  line  of  about  two  and  one-half  miles,  principally 
within  the  limits  of  the  city.  It  having  been  agreed  that  the  fire 
of  the  center  gun  should  furnish  the  signal  for  a  general  at- 
tack, I  proceeded  to  carry  out  this  portion  of  the  plan  by  dis- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  435 


charging  the  piece  myself.  The  signal  was  promptly  responded 
to  by  an  almost  simultaneous  and  very  effective  discharge  along 
the  whole  line.  The  moon  had  by  that  time  gone  down,  but  still 
the  light  of  the  stars  enabled  us  to  see  the  Federal  ships.  The 
enemy  did  not  hesitate  long  in  replying  to  our  attack.  He  soon 
opened  on  us  from  his  fleet  with  a  tremendous  discharge  of  shell, 
which  was  followed  with  grape  and  canister.  Our  men,  however, 
worked  steadily  at  their  guns  under  cover  of  the  darkness.  Col- 
onel Cook  now  advanced  with  his  storming  party  to  the  assault ; 
his  men,  wading  through  the  water  and  bearing  with  them  their 
scaling-ladders,  endeavored  to  reach  the  end  of  the  wharf  on 
which  the  enemy  were  stationed.  Colonel  Cook  was  supported 
by  Griffin's  battalion,  and  by  sharpshooters  deployed  on  the 
right  and  left  in  order  to  distract  the  enemy's  attention.  A 
severe  conflict  took  place  at  this  point,  our  men  being  exposed 
to  a  fire  of  grape,  canister,  and  shell  from  the  ships,  as  well  as 
of  musketry  from  the  land  forces.  The  water  was  deep,  the 
wharf  proved  higher  than  was  anticipated,  and  the  scaling-lad- 
ders, as  was  reported  to  me  by  Colonel  Cook,  were  found  to  be 
too  short  to  enable  the  men  to  accomplish  their  object.  After  an 
obstinate  contest,  the  infantry  were  directed  to  cover  themselves 
and  fire  from  the  buildings  nearest  the  wharf,  which  was  accord- 
ingly done. 

"The  enemy's  fire  was  deadly.  The  ships  being  not  more  than 
300  yards  from  our  batteries,  it  was  extremely  difficult  to  main- 
tain the  position  we  had  assumed,  and  some  of  the  artillerymen 
were  driven  from  their  pieces.  As  daylight,  which  was  now  ap- 
proaching, would  expose  these  men  still  more  to  the  enemy's  fire, 
and  as  our  gunboats  had  not  yet  made  their  appearance,  I  or- 
dered the  artillery  to  be  withdrawn  to  positions  which  afforded 
more  protection,  but  from  which  the  fire  could  be  continued  on 
the  adversary  with  greater  advantage  to  us.  Knowing  Captain 
Fontaine  to  be  in  a  position  the  most  exposed  of  all,  I  at  the  same 
time  dispatched  a  staff  officer  with  instructions  to  have  his  pieces 
likewise  withdrawn.  This  order  reaching  Captain  Fontaine's 
men  before  it  was  received  by  their  captain,  and  the  concentrated 
fire  from  the  enemy's  ships  but  a  few  hundred  yards  distant  hav- 
ing increased  in  intensity,  they  were  compelled  to  leave  their 


436  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


pieces.  They  were,  however,  soon  formed  by  Captain  Fontaine 
in  a  position  of  greater  security. 

"The  delicate  duty  of  withdrawing  the  pieces  in  the  city  from 
the  close  vicinity  of  the  enemy  was  intrusted  to  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral Scurry,  who  performed  it  with  skill  and  gallantry.  Prepara- 
tions were  then  ordered  for  the  immediate  fortification  and  per- 
manent occupation  of  the  city.  But  at  this  moment,  our  fire  still 
continuing,  our  gunboats  came  dashing  down  the  harbor  and  en- 
gaged the  Harriet  Lane,  which  was  the  nearest  of  the  enemy's 
ships,  in  the  most  gallant  style,  running  into  her,  one  on  each 
side,  and  pouring  on  her  deck  a  deadly  fire  of  rifles  and  shotguns. 
The  gallant  Captain  Wainwright  fought  his  ship  admirably.  He 
succeeded  in  disabling  the  Neptune,  and  attempted  to  run  down 
the  Bayou  City,  but  he  was  met  by  an  antagonist  of  even  su- 
perior skill,  coolness,  and  heroism.  Leon  Smith,  ably  seconded 
by  Captain  [Henry  S.]  Lubbock,  the  immediate  commander  of 
the  Bayou  City,  and  by  her  pilot,  Captain  McCormick,  adroitly 
evaded  the  deadly  stroke,  although  as  the  vessels  passed  each 
other  he  lost  his  larboard  wheelhouse  in  the  shock.  Again  the 
Bayou  City,  while  receiving  several  broadsides  almost  at  the  can- 
non's mouth,  poured  into  the  Harriet  Lane  a  destructive  fire  of 
small  arms.  Turning  once  more,  she  drove  her  prow  into  the 
iron  wheel  of  the  Harriet  Lane,  thus  locking  the  two  vessels  to- 
gether. Followed  by  the  officers  and  men  of  the  heroic  volun- 
teer corps,  Commodore  Leon  Smith  leaped  to  the  deck  of  the 
hostile  ship,  and,  after  a  moment  of  feeble  resistance,  she  was 
ours.  The  surviving  officers  of  the  Harriet  Lane  presented  their 
swords  to  Commodore  Leon  Smith  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the 
captured  vessel.  After  the  surrender,  the  Owasco  passed  along- 
side pouring  into  the  Harriet  Lane  a  broadside  at  close  quarters, 
but  she  was  soon  forced  to  back  out  by  the  effect  of  our  mus- 
ketry. 

"Commodore  Smith  then  sent  a  flag  to  Commodore  Renshaw, 
whose  ship  had  in  the  meantime  been  run  aground,  demanding 
the  surrender  of  the  whole  fleet,  and  giving  three  hours'  time  to 
consider.  These  propositions  were  accepted  by  the  commanding 
officer,  and  all  the  enemy's  vessels  were  immediately  brought  to 
anchor,  with  white  flags  flying.  Most  of  this  time  was  occupied 
in  attempting  to  get  the  Harriet  Lane  to  the  wharf  in  order  to 


LUB 'BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  437 


remove  the  wounded  to  a  place  of  safety.  The  ships  and  boats 
were  so  much  damaged  that  this  was  found  to  be  almost  impossi- 
ble with  the  means  at  hand.  Proceeding  myself  to  the  wharf,  I 
met  one  of  my  most  distinguished  and  scientific  staff  officers, 
Maj.  A.  M.  Lea,  who  informed  me  that  on  board  the  Harriet 
Lane  he  had  found  his  son,  the  second  in  command,  mortally 
wounded.  He  represented  to  me  that  there  were  other  officers 
badly  wounded,  and  urged  me  to  delay,  if  possible,  their  re- 
moval. It  now  being  within  an  hour  of  the  expiration  of  the 
period  of  truce,  I  sent  another  flag  to  Commodore  Renshaw, 
whose  ship  was  among  the  most  distant,  claiming  all  his  vessels 
immediately  under  our  guns  as  prizes,  and  giving  him  further 
time  to  consider  the  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  whole  fleet. 
This  message  was  borne  by  Colonel  Green  and  Captain  Lubbock. 
While  these  gentlemen  were  on  their  way  in  a  boat  to  fulfill  their 
mission,  Commodore  Renshaw  blew  up  his  ship  and  was  himself 
accidentally  blown  up  with  it.  They  boarded  the  ship  of  the  next 
in  command,  who  dropped  down  the  bay,  still  having  them  on 
board,  and  carried  them  some  distance  toward  the  bar,  while 
still  flying  the  white  flag  at  the  masthead. 

"In  the  meantime,  General  Scurry  sent  to  know  if  he  should 
fire  at  the  ships  immediately  in  his  front  at  the  expiration  of  the 
period  of  truce.  To  this  I  replied  in  the  negative,  as  another 
demand  under  a  flag  of  truce  from  me  had  been  sent  to  the 
commodore.  When  the  first  period  of  truce  expired,  the  enemy's 
ships  under  our  guns,  regardless  of  the  white  flags  still  flying  at 
their  mastheads,  gradually  crept  off.  As  soon  as  this  was  seen, 
I  sent  a  swift  express  on  horseback  to  General  Scurry,  directing 
him  to  open  fire  on  them.  This  was  done  with  so  much  effect 
that  one  of  them  was  reported  to  have  sunk  near  the  bar,  and  the 
Owasco  was  seriously  damaged. 

"I  forward  a  correspondence  on  this  subject  between  Com- 
modore Bell  and  myself.  In  this  correspondence  Commodore 
Bell  states  that  the  truce  was  violated  by  the  firing  of  cannon 
and  small  arms  by  our  men  on  shorCj  as  he  had  been  informed. 
This  is  an  error ;  not  a  gun  or  small  arm  was  discharged  during 
the  stipulated  period,  or  until  the  enemy's  vessels  were  discovered 
to  be  creeping  off  out  of  the  harbor.  Commodore  Leon  Smith 
fired  a  heavy  stern  gun  at  the  retiring  ships  with  effect  from  the 


438  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


Harriet  Lane.  Jumping  on  board  the  steamer  Carr,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Bolivar  channel  and  captured  and  brought  in  (in  the 
immediate  presence  of  the  enemy's  armed  vessels)  the  two  barks 
and  schooner  before  spoken  of.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to 
see,  the  land  force  surrendered  to  General  Scurry. 

"We  thus  captured  one  fine  steamship,  two  barks,  and  one 
schooner.  We  ran  ashore  the  flagship  of  the  commodore,  drove 
off  two  war  steamers,  and  sunk  another,  as  reported,  all  of  the 
United  States  navy,  and  the  armed  transports,  and  took  300  or 
400  prisoners.  The  number  of  guns  captured  was  fifteen,  and, 


GEN.  TOM  GREEN,  C.S.A. 

being  found  on  Pelican  Spit,  a  large  quantity  of  stores,  coal,  and 
olher  material  also  was  taken.  The  Neptune  sank;  her  officers 
and  crew,  with  the  execption  of  those  killed  in  the  battle,  were 
saved,  as  were  also  her  guns.  The  loss  on  our  side  was  26  killed, 
and  117  wounded.  Among  the  former  was  the  gallant  Captain 
Weir,  the  first  volunteer  for  the  expedition.  The  alacrity  with 
which  officers  and  men, — all  of  them  totally  unacquainted  with 
this  novel  kind  of  service,  and  some  of  whom  had  never  seen  a 
ship  before, — volunteered  for  an  enterprise  so  extraordinarily 
and  apparently  desperate  in  its  character,  and  the  bold  and  dash- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  439 


ing  manner  in  which  the  plan  was  executed,  are  certainly  deserv- 
ing of  the  highest  praise. 

"Although  it  may  appear  invidious  to  make  distinctions,  I 
nevertheless  regard  it  as  a  duty  to  say  that  too  much  credit  can 
not  be  bestowed  on  Commodore  Leon  Smith,  whose  professional 
ability,  energy,  and  perseverance,  amidst  many  discouraging  in- 
fluences, were  so  conspicuously  displayed  in  the  preparation  for 
the  attack,  while  in  its  execution  his  heroism  was  sublime.  In 
the  latter  he  was  most  ably  and  gallantly  seconded  by  Colonel 
Green,  commanding  the  land  forces  serving  on  board  of  our  fleet ; 
by  Captain  Lubbock,  commanding  the  Bayou  City ;  by  her  pilot, 
Captain  McCormick;  Captain  Wier,  commanding  the  artillery; 
Captain  Martin,  commanding  dismounted  dragoons,  and  by  the 
officers  and  men  on  board  of  that  boat.  Though  in  the  case  of 
the  Neptune  the  result  was  not  so  favorable,  her  attack  on  the 
Harriet  Lane  was  equally  bold  and  dashing,  and  had  its  weight 
in  the  capture.  Colonel  Bagby,  commanding  the  land  troops  on 
board  the  Neptune;  Captain  Sangster;  her  pilots,  Captains  Swift 
and  McGovern ;  Captain  Harby,  and  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
ship,  likewise  deserve,  as  they  have  received,  my  thanks  for  their 
participation  in  this  brilliant  battle.  The  engineers,  among 
whom  Captain  Seymour,  of  the  Bayou  City,  and  Captain  Con- 
ner, of  the  Neptune,  were  distinguished  by  remarkable  coolness, 
skill,  and  devotion  in  the  discharge  of  their  important  duties. 

"In  the  land  attack  especial  commendations  are  due  to  Brig.- 
Gen.  W.  R.  Scurry,  Col.  X.  B.  De  Bray,  Major  Yon  Harten, 
Cook's  regiment  of  artillery;  Captain  Fontaine,  Cook's  regi- 
ment; Maj.  J.  Kellersberg,  of  the  engineer  corps;  also  to  Col- 
onels Cook,  Pyron,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Abercrombie,  command- 
ing Elmore's  men ;  Major  Griffin,  Major  Wilson,  of  the  artillery ; 
Captain  Mason,  Captain  McMahan,  and  to  the  accomplished  and 
devoted  Lieutenant  Sherman,  who  fell  at  his  piece  mortally 
wounded,  and  to  privates  Brown  and  Shoppman,  of  Daly's  com- 
pany of  cavalry,  the  latter  of  whom  kept  up  the  fire  of  one  piece 
almost  without  assistance,  under  the  enemy's  grape  and  canis- 
ter." 

The  General  did  not  forget  to  notice  his  staff  officers,  compli- 
menting Capt.  E.  P.  Turner  for  his  "conspicuous  gallantry," 
and  commending  for  their  "gallantry,  promptness,  and  intelli- 
gence," Lieuts.  Geo.  A.  Magruder  and  H.  M.  Stanard  to  the 


440  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


epecial  consideration  of  the  government.  He  also  acknowledged 
the  services  of  numerous  volunteer  aides,  including  Judge  P.  W. 
Gray,  Hon.  J.  A.  Wilcox,  M.  C. ;  General  Howard,  of  the  State 
troops,  Major  Tucker,  E.  W.  Cave,  and  Hon.  M.  M.  Potter.  He 
recommended  to  the  especial  consideration  of  the  President  Gen. 
John  R.  Baylor,  for  his  "gallant  conduct  as  a  private,  serving  the 
guns  during  the  hottest  of  the  fight."  Among  others  favorably 
mentioned  were:  .  Lieutenant-Colonel  Manly,  Major  Watkins, 
and  Colonel  Forshey. 

The  following  additional  account  of  the  naval  part  of  the  bat- 
tle will  give  the  reader  a  more  complete  idea  of  the  engagement : 

Commodore  Smith's  cotton-clad  fleet,  cutting  loose  from  the 
wharf  at  Houston  about  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  steamed  off 
for  battle  with  flying  colors,  and  amid  the  cheers  of  the  specta- 
tors. Military  bands  discoursed  martial  music,  and  the  boys 
missed  a  good  chance  if,  in  passing  the  San  Jacinto  battleground, 
they  did  not  respond  with  a  rebel  yell  to  the  tune  of  Dixie.  Col- 
onel Green  himself  had  been  one  of  Houston's  artillerists  at  San 
Jacinto,  and  many  of  his  men  had  seen  service  in  that  famous 
campaign.  More  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  had  since  elapsed, 
and  these  gallant  men,  ever  ready,  if  need  be,  to  die  for  Texas, 
were  now  hurrying  on  to  meet  a  worse  foe  than  the  Mexican. 

On  the  way  down  several  patriotic  volunteers  were  taken 
aboard,  among  others,  a  son  of  Vice- President  Lorenzo  de  Za- 
vala,  Mr.  Roper  (the  tax  collector  of  Harris  County),  my  brother 
\Yilliam,  and  Henry's  son  James.  At  Morgan's  Point  the  fleet 
was  hailed  and  brought  to  by  a  mounted  soldier  on  shore.  Taken 
aboard  the  flagship,  he  proved  to  be  a  courier  from  General  Ma- 
gruder  to  Commodore  Smith,  with  this  greeting :  The  stormers98 
of  the  land,  to  the  stormers  of  the  sea,"  and  also  a  message  stat- 
ing that  the  land  forces  would  open  the  fight,  and  that  the  fleet 
must  not  engage  the  enemy  in  the  bay  till  the  signal  of  attack 
was  heard  from  Magruder's  guns. 

These  dispatches  had  an  exhilarating  effect,  showing,  as  they 
did,  that  all  arms  were  moving  upon  the  enemy. 

••  Judge  P.  W.  Gray,  at  the  time  on  Magruder's  staff,  said  a  few  days 
later:  "General  Magruder  sent  from  Summit  Station,  on  the  railroad, 
this  dispatch  to  Commodore  Smith  and  Colonel  Green:  'I  am  off,  and 
will  make  the  attack  as  agreed,  whether  you  come  or  not.  The  rangers 
of  the  prairie  send  greeting  to  the  rangers  of  the  sea.'  " 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  441 


Passing  Clopper's  and  Bed  Fish  bars,  the  commodore  soon 
sighted  the  enemy's  fleet.  Sockets  were  immediately  sent  up 
from  all  the  Federal  vessels  as  a  signal  of  expected  Confederate 
attack.  Under  orders  (as  before  stated),  the  flotilla  hove  to  and 
waited  for  Magruder's  signal. 

"At  last  came  the  expected  signal,"  says  Capt.  Henry  S.  Lub- 
bock,  "first  from  a  heavy  cannon,  and  then  from  smaller  pieces. 
We  could  not  mistake  the  clear  ring  of  the  little  cannon,  which 
we  at  once  recognized  as  the  Nichols  guns.  Then  came  the 
boom,  boom,  of  the  heavy  guns  of  the  enemy,  telling  plainly 
that  the  fight  had  begun. 

"Our  boys  replied  with  a  deafening  rebel  yell,  and  our  vessels 
were  at  once  put  in  motion  and  steamed  briskly  down  the  bay  to- 
wards the  hostile  fleet. 

"The  Bayou  City,  in  the  van,  was  equipped  with  boarding 
planks, — one  on  the  larboard  and  one  on  the  starboard  side, — 
under  the  special  charge  of  Commodore  Smith. 

"When  within  about  two  miles  of  the  enemy,  our  gun  was  dis- 
charged without  effect.  The  Lane  was  then  engaged  with  a  shore 
battery.  She  immediately  paid  attention  to  us,  but  we  were  not 
touched,  and  kept  rapidly  advancing.  After  one  discharge  from 
our  cannon,  it  was  again  loaded.  The  shot,  when  rammed  half- 
way down,  stuck  in  the  barrel.  When  the  match  was  applied  the 
gun  burst,  instantly  killing  Captain  Weir  and  two  of  the  gun- 
ners who  were  working  it.  The  body  of  Captain  Weir  was 
found  on  the  deck  after  the  explosion;  those  of  the  men  were 
doubtless  blown  overboard,  as  they  were  nowhere  to  be  seen.  Un- 
expected and  tragic  as  this  event  was  we  could  bestow  little  at- 
tention upon  it.  We  were  now  approaching  the  Lane  at  a  lively 
rate  of  speed,  high  steam  and  a  strong  ebb  tide  sweeping  us  down 
the  bay. 

"When  about  800  yards  off,  I  shaped  our  course  for  the  docks, 
abreast  of  which  the  Lane  was  anchored.  I  wished  to  run  below 
the  vessel,  turn,  and  come  up,  with  the  tide  against  us ;  but  per- 
ceiving there  was  too  much  risk  in  that  movement,  and  being 
only  about  500  yards  from  the  Lane,  I  pointed  the  Bayou  City 
directly  for  her.  The  swift  current  carried  us  past  the  Lane, 
the  two  vessels  grazing,  and  our  wheel-house  being  torn  off.  At 
the  critical  moment  the  guy-rope  holding  our  grappling  device 


442  LUBROCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


was  not  cut,  and  to  make  matters  worse  it  was  cut  when  too 
late.  As  we  drifted  past  the  Lane  our  men  poured  a  deadly  fire 
into  her,  a  perfect  fusilade  being  kept  up  for  about  a  minute. 
It  was  at  this  time  that  the  casualties  occurred  on  the  Lane.  We 
drifted  down  with  one  wheel  fouled.  This  was  soon  cleared,  and 
we  backed  into  a  slip,  which  enabled  us  to  turn  quickly,  and  we 
then  headed  for  the  Lane,  with  the  current  on  our  bow,  and  our 
boat,  consequently,  under  complete  control. 

"By  this  time  the  Neptune  (Captain  Sangster)  had  come  up 
to  and  in  collision  with  the  Lane  in  an  effort  to  ram  her,  but 
without  damage  to  the  Lane.  The  Neptune,  however,  stove  in 
her  own  prow,  and,  commencing  to  sink  rapidly,  drifted  past  the 
Lane  and  sunk  near  the  wharf.  In  passing,  Captain  Harby,  with 
his  little  brass  pieces,  fired  away  with  no  appreciable  result.  The 
infantry  on  the  Neptune  did  not  prevent  the  gunners  of  the  Lane 
from  discharging  two  twenty-pound  Dahlgrens  which  she  carried 
on  the  after-deck  as  stern-chasers,  creating  fearful  havoc  on  the 
Neptune.  The  sinking  of  the  Neptune  left  the  Bayou  City  to 
battle  single-handed  with  all  the  Federal  vessels  in  the  harbor. 
The  Bayou  City  made  a  rush,  under  a  full  head  of  steam,  for  the 
Lane.  When  within  easy  rifle  range  the  order  was  given  'shoot 
at  will,'  and  our  men  opened  a  brisk  and  effective  fire,  and  a  mo- 
ment later  the  sharp  stem  of  the  Bayou  City  struck  the  Lane, 
carrying  away  a  three-inch  wrought-iron  brace  attached  to  the 
guard-beam  and  hull,  and  cutting  into  the  iron  water-wheel  of 
the  enemy.  At  this  time,  while  we  were  fouled  with  the  Lane, 
the  Owasco  came  up  within  200  yards  and  opened  on  us  with 
shrapnel.  We  lost  one  man  killed  by  a  shrapnel  bullet.  Quite 
a  number  of  shrapnels  burst  on  our  decks,  embedding  balls  in  our 
engine  frame,  and  our  heater  was  broken.  A  ten-inch  solid  shot 
from  the  Owasco  passed  through  the  Lane's  cabin,  striking  the 
water  pitcher  on  the  sideboard,  and,  coming  out  of  the  port  win- 
dow, struck  the  broken  gun-carriage  on  the  Bayou  City's  deck, 
and  there  remained.  1  called  on  Capt.  J.  Martin  and  his  sharp- 
shooters to  attend  to  the  Owasco.  One  round  from  them  and  the 
Owasco  retired. 

"A  white  flag  was  then  raised  on  the  Harriet  Lane,  and  im- 
mediately afterwards  white  flags  were  raised  by  the  other  vessels 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  443 


engaged.  In  response  thereto  I  was  (at  my  request)  dispatched 
by  Commodore  Smith  to  make  a  formal  demand  for  the  sur- 
render of  the  enemy.  I  manned  one  of  the  Lane's  boats  with  a 
crew  from  the  Bayou  City,  and  was  pulled  away  to  discharge  this 
commission.  Coming  up  with  the  Owasco,  I  went  aboard  and 
explained  to  her  commodore,  Captain  Wilson,  the  nature  of  my 
visit.  He  replied  that  he  was  not  in  command  of  the  fleet.  We 
then  made  our  way  to  the  Clifton,  and  I  boarded  her,  climbing 
up  the  side  and  through  a  port  onto  her  deck.  Captain  Law,  her 
chief  officer,  met  me.  We  retired  to  his  stateroom,  and  there  I 
demanded  the  surrender  of  his  fleet.  It  was  then  about  7  :30 
o'clock  New  Year's  morning,  1863.  The  captain  inquired,  'W'hat 
are  your  terms?'  'We'll  parole  the  officers  and  crews,'  said  I, 
'and  give  you  the  sailing  ships  for  transportation,  the  steamers 
to  remain  in  the  harbor.'  'How  much  time,'  asked  Captain  Law, 
'is  given?  I  wish  to  consult  with  the  commander  of  the  West- 
field.'  'Two  hours,  or  until  9  o'clock,'  was  the  reply. 

"Our  conference  was  witnessed  by  Mr.  Hanna,  who  was  a  petty 
officer  on  board  the  Harriet  Lane.  I  brought  him  with  me,  so 
that  he  might  inform  the  Federal  commander  if  he  was  ques- 
tioned as  to  the  condition  of  the  Lane.  I  informed  Captain  Law 
that  he  could  have  Mr.  Hanna  accompany  him  to  the  Westfield, 
which  he  did. 

"Leaving  the  Clifton,  we  pulled  for  the  city  front.  Seeing  a 
force  of  our  men  ashore,  back  of  Khun's  wharf,  and  some  of  them 
wading  in  the  water,  I  stopped  at  the  end  of  the  wharf  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  a  courier  and  sending  word  to  General  Ma- 
gruder  of  the  exact  condition  of  affairs.  On  reaching  the  wharf, 
I  found  that  there  were  no  steps  leading  up  to  it  from  the  water's 
edge.  As  the  tide  was  low,  the  distance  to  the  platform  of  the 
wharf  was  considerable.  I  was  very  tired,  and  would  have  found 
it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  climb  up  the  smooth  piling.  I 
was  saved  the  trouble  of  making  the  attempt.  A  tall  soldier 
leaned  over  the  docks,  reached  down  his  hand,  and  said,  very  po- 
litely, 'Let  me  assist  you,  sir.'  With  his  aid  I  swung  onto  the 
dock.  He  introduced  himself  as  Colonel  Burrill,  of  the  Forty- 
second  Massachusetts,  and  requested  that  the  same  terms  which 
were  given  to  the  fleet  be  extended  to  his  regiment. 


444  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"My  reply  was,  'I  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  land  forces. 
What  officer  is  in  front  of  you?'  He  replied,  'General  Scurry, 
and  if  you  desire  it,  we  will  walk  out  and  see  him.' 

"Whereupon  we  walked  out  on  the  string-pieces, — all  the 
planking  on  the  wharf  having  been  taken  up. 

"Observing  our  approach,  an  officer  was  sent  forward  to  meet 
us.  When  he  was  informed  of  our  names  and  rank,  and  that  we 
wished  to  see  General  Scurry,  he  requested  us  to  advance.  As 
soon  as  we  made  our  way  from  the  wharf  to  the  shore,  we  were 
met  by  General  Scurry  and  staff,  and  I  introduced  Colonel  Bur- 
rill,  and  told  General  Scurry  that  he  desired  the  same  terms 
that  were  given  the  fleet. 

"Scurry  looked  in  a  quizzical  way  at  me,  for  he,  of  course,  was 
in  the  dark  as  to  what  had  been  done  by  the  marine  forces.  I 
repeated  to  him  (what  I  had  already  told  Colonel  Burrill)  the 
details  of  the  victory  won  by  our  men  on  the  water. 

"Scarcely  had  the  words  passed  my  lips  before  the  General's 
adjutant,  Lieutenant  Jones,  taking  in  the  situation,  said,  in  an 
audible  whisper:  'General,  make  the  surrender  immediate  and 
unconditional.' 

"Then  Scurry  talked  to  Burrill  for  about  a  minute  in  such  a 
fatherly  way  that  it  soothed  the  sting  of  defeat  in  the  Colonel's 
breast,  and  I  am  certain  he  returned  to  the  wharf  a  happier  man 
than  when  he  left  it  a  few  moments  before. 

"In  order  that  I  might  take  the  news  to  General  Magruder,  I 
was  furnished  with  a  mount  and  an  orderly  to  conduct  me  to 
headquarters,  located  in  the  handsome  residence  of  Colonel  Nich- 
ols. We  made  our  way  there  without  any  loss  of  time. 

"General  Magruder  walked  out  of  the  house  to  meet  us.  I  had 
been  lifted  out  of  the  saddle,  and  Turner,  Foster,  and  others  of 
the  General's  military  family  were  almost  carrying  me  in  their 
arms.  The  General  espied  me,  caught  me  in  his  arms,  and 
hugged  me  as  a  father  would  a  long-lost  boy. 

"  'How  fares  the  day,  Captain  ?'  said  he. 

"  'We  have  won  the  fight,  General.' 

"'How  is  that?  What  do  you  mean?  Where  is  the  Bayou 
City?' 

"  'General,'  I  replied,  'she  is  alongside  her  prize,  the  Harriet 
Lane.' 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  445 


"What  a  ripple  of  delight  ran  through  the  party.  They  were 
at  breakfast  when  I  arrived.  I  was  hungry,  and  it  did  not  re- 
quire a  second  invitation  to  cause  me  to  drop  into  a  chair  and  do 
ample  justice  to  the  viands  that  were  spread  upon  the  table, 
while  the  General  rolled  out  questions  at  a  rate  that  none  but  he 
could  do,  and  the  answers  all  pleased  him. 

"Breakfast  through,  the  general  expressed  a  desire  to  see  the 
prize. 

"We  left  the  house,  proceeded  to  the  wharf,  and  embarked  for 
the  prize.  The  party  consisted  of  Gen.  J.  Bankhead  Magruder, 
his  adjutants  Captains  Turner  and  Foster,  and  myself  and  boat's 
crew.  I  was  steering  the  gig  and  so  shaped  our  course  as  to  pass 
within  about  fifty  feet  of  the  Owasco,  on  the  port  side.  As  we 
passed  her  I  raised  my  cap,  the  General  and  staff  officers  fol- 
lowed suit,  and  the  captain  and  officers  on  board  the  Owasco 
acknowledged  the  salute.  A  few  strokes  of  the  oars  left  the  ves- 
sel astern. 

"Commodore  Smith  had  caused  the  Lane  to  be  docked,  and 
when  we  arrived  at  that  vessel's  side  he  was  in  a  very  audible 
voice  counting  the  prisoners  as  they  were  passed  ashore. 

"The  General,  Captains  Turner,  Foster,  and  myself,  went  on 
board  the  Lane  and  visited  the  cabin,  where  we  had  a  very  social 
chat. 

"An  answer  was  due  from  Captain  Law  at  9  o'clock,  and  it 
was  near  that  hour,  so  I  informed  the  General,  who  thereupon 
said  to  me :  'Tell  them,  sir,  that  we  have  two  more  rams  coming 
down  the  bay,  and  now  in  sight,  a  large  land  force  in  reserve, 
and  nothing  remains  for  them  to  do  but  to  surrender.'  Turning 
around,  the  General  saw  Col.  Tom  Green,  and  said :  "Colonel,  go 
with  Captain  Lubbock.'  Lieutenant  Shephard,  Colonel  Green's 
aide,  was  at  his  request  permitted  to  accompany  us. 

"We  started  down  the  bay  and  caught  up  with  the  Owasco,  then 
under  way  (with  a  white  flag  at  her  masthead),  slowly  feeling 
her  way  out  of  the  harbor. 

"We  boarded  her,  and  I  said  to  Captain  Wilson :  'I  expected  to 
find  you  at  anchor:  the  time  of  stipulation  is  not  up/ 

"He  replied :  'You  are  mistaken,  sir ;  you  entered  into  no  stip- 
ulation with  me.'  On  reflection,  I  acknowledged  my  error. 


446  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"We  left  the  Ovvasco  and  pulled  for  and  boarded  the  Clifton 
while  she  was  slowly  steaming  out  of  the  bay,  with  a  flag  of 
truce  flying  at  her  masthead. 

"I  asked  Captain  Law  where  he  was  going. 

"  'To  sea/  was  his  answer. 

"  'You  are  breaking  the  stipulation,'  was  my  rejoinder. 

"  'No,  sir ;  I  am  acting  under  orders  of  my  senior.' 

"Captain  Law  evidently  alluded  to  Captain  Eenshaw  of  the 
United  States  steamer  Westfield,  whom  he  consulted  after  the 
demand  was  made  for  surrender. 

"The  Westfield  was  aground  off  Pelican  Spit  at  the  time  she 
was  communicated  with  by  Captain  Law.  The  tide  was  then 
running  ebb,  and  it  was  impossible  to  get  her  afloat.  The  work 
of  transferring  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Westfield  to  the  sail- 
ing ship  was  commenced  prior  to  Captain  Law  leaving  the  West- 
field  and  returning  to  his  vessel,  the  Clifton.  Captain  Eenshaw 
and  a  boat's  crew  remained  on  the  Westfield  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  the  vessel  rather  than  let  her  fall  into  our  hands. 
In  accomplishing  the  destruction  of  the  vessel  the  captain  lost 
his  own  life  and  the  lives  of  a  portion  of  his  boat's  crew.  After 
pulling  away  from  the  vessel,  he  returned  to  it,  the  magazine 
not  having  blown  up  as  he  had  planned.  Just  as  he  and  his  men 
stepped  on  board  to  examine  the  fuse,  the  explosion  occurred. 
This  incident  transpired  while  the  flag  of  truce  was  flying. 

"While  Captain  Law  and  I  were  talking,  the  Clifton  was  pro- 
ceeding rapidly  through  the  water  and  was  soon  at  the  bar  buoy. 
I  here  noticed  that  Shepherd  was  showing  signs  of  seasickness, 
and  requested  Law  to  slow  down  so  that  I  could  leave  the  ship. 
The  vessel's  headway  was  checked,  and  Colonel  Green,  Lieuten- 
ant Shepherd  and  myself  left  the  Clifton,  and  the  last  incident 
of  the  battle  of  Galveston  was  closed. 

"I  felt  then,  as  I  do  now,  that  it  was  not  a  manly  act  to  leave 
the  harbor  with  the  flag  of  truce  flying. 

"On  my  return  to  the  Lane,  I  found  the  Federal  officer  whom 
I  had  left  with  Captain  Law  for  the  purpose  of  accompanying 
him  to  Captain  Renshaw.  This  officer's  conduct  was  in  sharp 
contrast  with  that  of  his  superior.  He  had  pledged  his  word  to 
return,  and  had  done  so,  pulling  with  a  pair  of  sculls  a  small 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  447 


dingey  from  the  Westfield  to  the  Lane.  I  regret  that  I  do  not 
remember  this  officer's  name.  My  impression  is  that  it  was 
'Hanna/  and  his  home  Boston. 

"It  would  be  a  matter  of  considerable  historical  interest  to  give 
the  names  of  all  those  who  were  on  the  Bayou  City  during  the 
conflict.  I  regret  that  I  can  not  supply  them.  I  recollect  the 
names  of  a  few,  however,  and  give  them  below:  Captain  Leon 
Smith,  commodore  of  the  Confederate  fleet ;  Henry  S.  Lubbock, 
captain  of  the  Bayou  City;  L.  C.  Hershberger,  chief  engineer; 
John  Curly,  second  engineer;  —  Evans,  third  engineer;  — 
Haughwout,  fourth  engineer;  M.  McCormick,  John  Paine,  and 
Drurie  Specernagle,  pilots,  and  John  Donohue,  fireman,  the 
latter  now  living  in  this  State.  The  military  on  board  I  have 
already  mentioned." 

The  United  States  steamer  Cambria,  from  New  Orleans,  ar- 
rived outside  the  bar  January  2d,  at  7  p.  m.,  and  cast  anchor,  as 
no  pilot  appeared  to  conduct  her  in,  and  a  high  wind  and  heavy 
sea  rendered  it  unsafe  to  attempt  an  entrance  into  the  harbor. 
This  vessel  had  on  board  two  companies  of  the  First  Texas  cav- 
alry, horses  of  the  Second  Vermont  artillery,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  men,  women,  and  children — Union  refugees  who  had  pre- 
viously left  Texas.  The  captain  of  the  Cambria,  ignorant  of  the 
Confederate  occupation  of  Galveston,  and  eager  to  effect  an  an- 
chorage inshore,  dispatched  a  boat  with  six  men  the  next  after- 
noon (two  soldiers  and  four  refugees)  to  the  city  for  a  pilot. 

"On  the  3d  of  January/'  says  General  Magruder,  "(I  then  on 
board  the  Harriet  Lane),  a  yawlboat  containing  several  men,  in 
command  of  a  person  named  Thomas  Smith,  recently  a  citizen 
of  Galveston,  and  who  had  deserted  from  our  army,  was  reported 
alongside.  He  informed  me  that  he  was  sent  from  the  United 
States  transport-steamship  Cambria  (then  off  the  bar)  for  a 
pilot,  and  that  they  had  no  idea  of  the  occupation  of  the  city 
by  us. 

"I  forthwith  ordered  a  pilot  boat,  under  command  of  Captain 
Johnson,  to  bring  in  this  ship ;  but,  through  a  most  extraordinary 
combination  of  circumstances,  the  vessel  (which  contained  E.  J. 
Davis  and  many  other  apostate  Texans,  besides  several  hundred 
troops  and  2500  saddles  for  the  use  of  native  sympathizers)  suc- 
ceeded in  making  her  escape. 


448  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


"The  man  Smith,  who  had,  it  is  said,  several  times  set  fire  to 
the  city  of  Galveston  before  he  deserted,  had  been  known  as 
'Nicaragua  Smith,'  and  was  dreaded  by  every  one.  He  returned 
to  Galveston  to  act  as  Federal  provost  marshal.  His  arrival  pro- 
duced much  excitement.  .  .  .  Smith,  the  deserter,  was  tried 
regularly  the  next  day  before  a  general  court  martial,  and,  being 
convicted  of  deserting  to  the  enemy,  was  publicly  shot  in  Galves- 
ton, in  accordance  with  his  sentence.  .  .  . 

"The  pilot  boat  went  out  under  the  command  of  a  gallant 
sailor,  Captain  Payne,  of  Galveston.  The  enemy's  ship  proved 
to  be  a  splendid  iron  steamer,  built  on  the  Clyde.  I  had  ascer- 
tained from  her  men  taken  ashore  that  she  had  only  two  guns, 
and  they  were  packed  on  deck  under  a  large  quantity  of  hay,  and 
I  anticipated  an  easy  conquest  and  one  of  great  political  impor- 
tance, as  this  ship  contained  almost  all  the  Texans  out  of  the 
State  who  had  proved  recreant  to  their  duty  to  the  Confederacy 
and  to  Texas.  The  pilot  boat  was  allowed  to  get  close  to  the  ship, 
when  the  boat  was  hailed  and  the  pilot  ordered  to  come  on  board. 
He  hesitated,  but  was  compelled  finally  to  go  aboard,  and  the  ship 
then  steamed  away  with  him,  leaving  the  pilot  boat  and  crew  un- 
molested. An  effort  was  made  to  repair  the  disabled  Harriet 
Lane  in  time  to  effect  the  capture  of  the  Cambria ;  but  it  failed 
for  the  want  of  proper  workmen.  The  Cambria  met  the  United 
States  war  vessel  Brooklyn  the  next  day  and  disclosed  the  situ- 
ation at  Galveston." 

Gen.  N.  P.  Banks  says  in  his  official  report,  after  giving  a  brief 
account  of  the  Federal  disaster  at  Galveston: 

"I  desire  to  call  your  attention  now  to  the  position  of  General 
Hamilton,  not  for  the  purpose  of  troubling  you  with  the  respon- 
sibilities connected  therewith,  which  I  am  willing  to  assume  my- 
self, but  to  protect  my  administration  from  infamous  calumnia- 
tions propagated  by  men  on  his  staff.  My  intercourse  with  the 
General  has  been  pleasant.  He  is  not  a  bad  man,  but  lacks  deci- 
sion and  force  of  character.  I  have  treated  him  with  profound 
respect,  up  to  the  line  of  my  duty.  I  did  not,  however,  proclaim 
to  him,  nor  to  those  associated  with  him,  my  destination.  They 
ascertained  that  for  the  first  time  when  we  were  in  New  Orleans. 
On  our  passage  I  was  unable  to  attend  to  business,  and  passed 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  449 


with  him  only  such  courtesies  as  I  was  able  to  offer  my  own  offi- 
cers and  to  my  friends  on  board.  Upon  our  arrival  here,  I  im- 
mediately gave  him  a  full  statement  of  my  orders  and  of  my  pro- 
posed action.  He  was  entirely  satisfied;  indeed,  no  gentleman 
could  have  been  dissatisfied,  so  full,  frank,  and  truthful  was  my 
statement  of  my  plans  and  my  orders.  His  impatience,  and  the 
violence  of  those  about  him,  led  me  sooner  to  send  a  detachment 
of  troops  to  Galveston  than  I  should  otherwise  have  done,  and  is 
immediately  the  cause  of  the  small  loss  the  army  has  sustained 
there.  This  was,  however,  upon  consultation  with  Admiral  Far- 
ragut  and  General  Butler,  and  the  fullest  confidence  that  our 
troops  would  be  safe  under  the  protection  of  the  fleet. 

"General  Hamilton  is  surrounded  by  men  who  are  here  for  the 
basest  mercenary  purposes.  Disappointed  in  their  objects,  they 
have  been  unsparing  in  their  denunciations  of  the  government, 
and  especially  of  myself.  They  came  on  board  the  government 
transport  Illinois  without  my  knowledge  and  against  my  orders, 
and,  as  General  Hamilton  has  said  to  me,  have  influence  over  him 
in  consequence  of  pecuniary  advances  made  to  him  while  in  the 
Xorth.  I  desire  it  to  be  understood  by  the  government  that  any 
representations  made  by  them  to  the  government  or  the  people 
will  be,  at  least,  only  a  partial  statement  of  the  truth,  if  they  be 
not  entirely  false.  The  strongest  government  in  the  world  would 
break  down  under  such  a  system  of  plunder  as  they  desire  to  or- 
ganize. If  the  whole  State  were  for  the  Union,  it  would  turn 
against  the  government  if  the  purposes  of  such  men  were  tol- 
erated. 

"I  know  the  difficulties  of  my  situation,  which  are  very  nu- 
merous and  very  great,  and  intend  to  do  my  duty  faithfully  while 
here, — a  duty  from  which  I  would,  in  the  failing  condition  of  my 
health,  most  gladly  be  relieved;  but  I  can  not  suffer  the  inde- 
cency, falsehood,  and  corruption  of  these  men  to  go  without 
check.  You  need  not  be  surprised,  therefore,  if  they  are  ordered 
to  leave  the  department. 

"The  military  gentlemen  accompanying  General  Hamilton, 
sent  to  him  by  Governor  Andrew,  are  reputable  men.  They  were 
greatly  disappointed  when  they  learned  the  destination  of  my 
expedition,  and  were  severe,  if  not  greatly  unjust,  in  their  cen- 

29 


450  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


sures  upon  all  concerned.  My  belief  is  that  their  opinion  con- 
cerning Texan  affairs  is  essentially  changed  since  the  recent 
disaster/'  °9 

In  reply,  under  date  of  January  18,  1862,  Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck 
informed  Banks  that  the  Secretary  of  War  had  ordered  General 
Hamilton's  commission  as  Governor  of  Texas  revoked. 

Four  days  after  the  battle  of  Galveston,  General  Magruder 
issued  the  following  proclamation: 

"HD'Q/RS.  DIST.  OF  TEXAS,  NEW  MEXICO,  AND  ARIZONA, 

GALVESTON,  TEXAS,  Jan.  b,  1863. 

"Whereas,  the  undersigned  has  succeeded  in  capturing  and 
destroying  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  and  in  driving  the 
remainder  out  of  Galveston  harbor  and  beyond  the  neighboring 
waters,  and  thus  raising  the  blockade  virtually ; 

He,  therefore,  proclaims  to  all  concerned  that  the  harbor  of 
Galveston  is  open  for  trade  to  all  friendly  nations,  and  their 
merchants  are  invited  to  resume  their  usual  intercourse  with  this 
port. 

"Done  at  Galveston,  this  the  fifth  day  of  January,  eighteen 
hundred  and  sixty-three. 

"J.  BANKHEAD  MAGRUDER, 

"Major-General  Commanding." 

Which  brought  forth  the  following : 

"IT.  S.  STEAM  SLOOP  BROOKLYN, 
"OFF  GALVESTON,  Jan.  20, 1863. 

"Whereas,  a  proclamation  dated  Galveston,  Texas,  January  4, 
1863,  and  signed  by  J.  Bankhead  Magruder,  major-general  com- 
manding, declares  the  said  port  of  Galveston  to  be  open  for  trade 
with  all  friendly  nations,  and  invites  their  merchants  to  resume 
their  usual  commercial  intercourse  with  the  said  port  of  Galves- 
ton; therefore,  the  undersigned  hereby  warns  all  concerned  that 

•*  Banks  in  a  general  report,  April  6,  1805,  says:  "I  regarded  the 
loss  of  Galveston.  in  its  consequences,  thoug-h  not  in  the  incidents  im- 
mediately attending  its  capture,  as  the  most  unfortunate  affair  that  oc- 
curred in  the  depart  merit  during  my  command.  Galveston.  as  a  mili- 
tary position,  was  second  in  importance  only  to  New  Orleans  or  Mobile. '' 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  451 


the  port  of  Galveston,  and  also  Sabine  Pass,  as  well  as  the  coast 
of  Texas,  are  under  an  actual  blockade  by  a  sufficient  force  of 
United  States  vessels;  and  any  merchant  vessel  appearing  off 
the  aforesaid  ports,  or  attempting  to  pass  out  from  the  said  ports, 
under  any  pretext  whatever,  will  be  captured,  notwithstanding 
the  aforesaid  proclamation,  and  sent  into  an  open  port  of  the 
United  States  for  adjudication.  H.  H.  BELL, 

"Comm.,  Com'd'g.  U.   S.   Forces  off  Galveston  and  Coast  of 
Texas." 

On  the  entry  of  his  forces  the  morning  of  the  battle,  Magruder 
offered  the  use  of  his  ambulances  to  the  Ursuline  nuns  in  order 
that  they  might  remove  to  a  place  of  safety.  "But,"  says  the 
General,  "the  noble  women  of  the  convent  .  .  .  expressed  a 
preference  to  remain  and  nurse  the  wounded,  offering  their  build- 
ing as  a  hospital.  .  .  .  The  wounded  of  the  enemy  were  con- 
ducted to  the  same  hospital,  and  the  same  attentions  were  be- 
stowed on  them  as  if  they  had  been  our  own  men.  Captain  Wain- 
wright  and  Lieutenant  Lea,  of  the  Federal  navy,  were  buried 
with  masonic  and  military  honors  in  the  same  grave  in  Galves- 
ton cemetery,  Major  Lea,  of  the  Confederate  army,  father  of 
Lieutenant  Lea,  performing  the  funeral  services."70 

While  Magruder  was  strengthening  his  coast  defenses  against 
the  probable  return  of  the  Yankees,  congratulations  on  his  great 
victory  poured  in  upon  him  from  almost  every  quarter.  Doubt- 
less, the  most  valued  of  these  testimonials  were  those  from  the 
hero  of  San  Jacinto  and  from  President  Davis.  General  Hous- 
ton wrote  to  him  from  Huntsville,  January  7,  1863 : 

"It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  mingle  my  congratulations  with 
the  many  thousands  that  you  have  received.  You,  sir,  have  in- 
troduced a  new  era  in  Texas  by  driving  from  our  soil  a  ruthless 

70  President  Davis,  in  his  "Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederate  Govern- 
ment" (volume  1,  page  233),  says  of  the  distinguished  Federal  dead: 
"The  conduct  of  Commander  Renshaw  towards  the  inhabitants  of  Gal- 
veston had  been  marked  by  moderation  and  propriety,  and  the  closing 
act  of  his  life  was  one  of  manly  courage  and  fidelity  to  the  flag  he  bore. 
.  .  .  Captain  Wainwright  and  Lieutenant  Lea,  who  fell  valiantly  de- 
fending their  ship,  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  with  the  honors  of  war. 
Thus  was  evinced  that  instinctive  respect  which  true  warriors  always 
feel  for  their  peers." 


452  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


enemy.  You  deserve,  sir,  not  only  my  thanks,  but  the  thanks  of 
every  Texan.  Your  advent  was  scarcely  known  in  Texas,  when 
we  were  awakened  from  our  reverie  to  the  realities  of  your  splen- 
did victory.  Its  planning  and  execution  reflect  additional  credit 
on  your  former  fame,  as  well  as  upon  the  arms  of  Texas. 

"Most  sincerely  do  we  trust  that  a  new  era  has  now  dawned 
upon  us,  and  that  you  may  be  enabled  again  to  restore  to  Texas 
her  wonted  security.  We  hope  that  Texas,  with  so  gallant  a 
leader  as  you  are,  General,  will  yet  show  to  the  world  that  she  is 
capable  of  defending  her  own  soil,  notwithstanding  she  has  been 
drained  of  her  only  resources,  which  had  been  transferred  to  other 
battlefields.  You  will  find  that  all  Texans  want  is  a  general  who 
is  capable  of  leading  them  to  victory ;  and  now,  having  obtained 
that,  I  hope  you  will  ever  find  them  ready  to  second  your  efforts, 
and  that  your  future  may  be  as  glorious  as  your  past. 

"When  you  arrived  here,  General,  you  found  our  country  with- 
out an  organization,  without  plans  for  our  defense,  and  our  situ- 
ation most  deplorable.  What  few  resources  we  had  were  without 
organization,  without  discipline,  and  without  anything  that  was 

calculated  to  render  what  we  had  efficient.    You  have  breathed 

» 

new  life  into  everything ;  you  have  illustrated  to  them  what  they 
can  do,  and  most  sincerely  do  I  trust  that  the  past  may  only  be 
the  dawning  of  the  future,  and  I  pray  that  under  the  guidance 
of  a  Divine  Being  you  may  be  enabled  to  carry  out  the  regenera- 
tion of  Texas.  It  would  give  me  pleasure,  General,  to  call  and 
pay  my  respects  to  you,  were  it  not  that  I  have  but  recently 
arisen  from  a  sick-bed." 

President  Davis  wrote  to  him,  January  28,  1863,  from  Rich- 
mond: 

"I  am  much  gratified  at  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  January 
6th,  conveying  to  me  the  details  of  your  brilliant  exploit  in  the 
capture  of  Galveston  and  the  vessels  in  the  harbor.  The  boldness 
of  the  conception  and  the  daring  and  skill  of  the  execution  were 
crowned  by  results  substantial  as  well  as  splendid.  Your  success 
has  been  a  heavy  blow  to  the  enemy's  hopes,  and  I  trust  will  be 
vigorously  and  effectively  followed  up.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
your  prudence  and  tact  will  be  as  successful  in  allaying  domestic 
discontents  as  your  military  ability  in  retrieving  our  position  on 
the  Texas  coast. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  453 


"Your  suggestions71  will  receive  the  favorable  consideration 
due  to  you. 

"The  congratulations  I  tender  to  you  and  your  brave  army 
are  felt  by  the  whole  country.  I  trust  your  achievement  is  but 
the  precursor  of  a  series  of  successes  which  may  redound  to  the 
glory  and  honor  of  yourself  and  our  country." 

I  wrote  to  General  Magruder  from  Austin,  January  6th: 

"Permit  me  to  congratulate  you  and  the  brave  officers  and  men 
under  your  command  upon  the  brilliant  achievement  with  which 
you  inaugurate  the  new  year.  1  think  I  am  not  vain  in  char- 
acterizing it  as  the  most  dashing  affair  of  the  war.  You  have 
fixed  yourself  permanently  in  the  hearts  of  the  Texans.  This 
war  has  demonstrated  that  our  soldiers  are  not  disposed  to  cal- 
culate the  odds  against  them;  but  this  affair  satisfies  me  that, 
worthily  led,  they  will  walk  over  every  obstacle.  The  troops  un- 
der your  command  have  proved  themselves  the  worthy  comrades 
of  the  noble  Texas  brigade  in  Virginia." 

Among  the  spoils  captured  at  Galveston  were  600  barrels  of 
Irish  potatoes,  which  I  requested  the  general  to  reserve  as  seed, 
to  be  distributed  among  the  people  for  planting;  but  I  heard 
nothing  more  of  the  potatoes.  They  were  doubtless  appropriated 
as  rations  for  the  troops. 

General  Magruder  wrote  to  me,  under  date  of  February  11, 
1863,  acknowledging  receipt  of  my  letter,  saying,  among  other 
things : 

"It  gives  me  pleasure  to  be  able  to  announce  to  you,  as  I  now 
do,  that  the  coast  of  Texas  is  occupied,  and  free  for  the  occupa- 
tion of  our  troops,  from  the  Sabine  to  the  Eio  Grande ;  that  the 
enemy  has  no  longer  a  foothold  on  the  soil  of  Texas,  and  that 
his  blockading  squadrons  are  his  best  ships,  which  keep  at  a 
respectful  distance  from  our  shores ;  that  the  Rio  Grande,  the 
frontier  so  vital  to  us,  is  strongly  held  by  men  and  guns,  and  that 
I  now  entertain  great  hopes  that  I  shall  be  able  to  fortify  it  so 
as  to  render  it  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  the  enemy  to 
take  it  from  us. 

71  These  suggestions  were  submitted  to  the  President  in  a  letter 
dated  January  6,  1863,  and  outlined  a  plan  for  the  defense  of  the  Texas 
coast. 


454  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"I  hope  ere  long  to  have  a  fleet  of  war  vessels  on  that  river, 
which  will  insure  great  security  in  that  direction. 

'"To  the  heroic  Captain  Leon  Smith,  skillfully  and  bravely 
supported  by  Captains  Lubbock  and  Sangster  of  the  Bayou  City 
and  Xeptune,  and  to  the  gallant  Texans  under  their  devoted 
leaders,  Colonels  Green  and  Bagby,  and  Captains  Weir,  Martin, 
Snyder,  and  Harby,  we  are  indebted  for  the  glorious  initiative  of 
this  campaign.'' 

He  then  gave  information  of  a  better  state  of  feeling  in  pre- 
viously disaffected  counties  (Austin,  Fayette,  and  others),  and 
of  his  having  sent  the  militia  to  their  homes. 

This  reference  to  disaffected  counties  requires  a  word  of  ex- 
planation. The  counties  alluded  to  were  principally  populated 
by  Germans.  Many  of  these  had  either  left  the  land  of  their 
birth  to  escape  political  persecution  or  were  the  descendants  of 
men  who  had  participated  in  the  struggle  for  German  freedom 
in  18-48,  and  (that  noble  effort  failing)  sought  an  asylum  in  the 
mighty  bosom  of  Texas.  All  such  heartily  sympathized  with  the 
South  in  the  defensive  war  she  was  waging,  and  not  a  few  enlisted 
in  the  Confederate  army  and  did  valiant  service  in  the  field.  But 
there  was  another  very  large  class,  tainted  with  Union  proclivi- 
ties, and  it  was  thought  that  had  Banks  succeeded  in  invading 
Texas  they  would  have  risen  in  arms  and  aided  him. 

The  blockading  fleet  under  Commodore  H.  H.  Bell  resumed 
its  station  off  Galveston  in  about  a  week  after  the  battle  there. 
The  Yankees,  out  of  humor  about  their  defeat,  were  disposed  to 
get  even  with  the  Texans  in  any  way  possible.  So  on  the  after- 
noon of  January  10th  their  vessels  moved  up  closer  to  the  island, 
the  Brooklyn  (the  flagship)  opposite  Fort  Point;  the  gunboat 
Sciota  one  mile  west,  and  the  gunboat  Uncas  one  mile  west  from 
the  Sciota.  Without  a  moment's  notice  to  remove  the  women  and 
children,  these  vessels  opened  simultaneous  fire,  the  Brooklyn 
and  Sciota  on  Fort  Point  and  the  Uncas  on  the  south  battery  and 
the  city,  into  which  thirty-six  shots  were  fired.  Colonel  Cook 
hurried  one  of  the  Nichols  guns  to  the  south  battery,  fired  four 
shots  with  telling  effect,  and  compelled  the  enemy  to  draw  off. 
Although  thus  compelled  to  beat  an  inglorious  retreat,  the  enemy 
were  doubtless  well  pleased  with  their  success  in  driving  the 
women  and  children  out  of  town.  Many  buildings  were  struck, 
but  without  serious  damage,  and  there  were  many  narrow 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS,  455 


escapes,  but  no  lives  were  lost.  Hundreds  of  noncombatants,  in- 
cluding women  and  children,  spent  the  night  on  the  prairie  with- 
out food  or  shelter  of  any  kind. 

The  next  night  (Sunday  the  llth),  the  Yankees  were,  by  way 
of  amusement,  throwing  an  occasional  shell  into  the  helpless  city 
when  the  avenger,  Captain  Semmes,  with  the  Alabama,  hove  in 
sight.  He  was  at  this  time  cruising  on  our  coast  on  the  look- 
out for  the  transports  of  the  Banks  expedition  to  Texas.  Not 
knowing  of  our  recapture  of  Galveston  and  the  frustration 
thereby  of  that  expedition,  he  came  suddenly  upon  five  Federal 
war  vessels  near  the  island.  At  this  moment  he  saw  a  shell  from 
one  of  the  Federal  steamers  burst  over  the  city,  and  ot  once 
realized  that  Galveston  was  again  in  the  hands  of  the  Confed- 
erates. The  Alabama  began  to  back  off,  and  was  closely  followed 
by  one  of  the  blockading  vessels. 

Admiral  Semmes  says,  in  his  "Service  Afloat" :  "At  length, 
when  I  judged  that  I  had  drawn  the  stranger  out  about  twenty 
miles  from  his  fleet,  I  furled  my  sails,  beat  to  quarters,  prepared 
my  ship  for  action,  and  wheeled  to  meet  him.  The  two  ships 
now  approached  each  other  very  rapidly.  As  we  came  within 
speaking  distance,  we  simultaneously  stopped  our  engines,  the 
ships  being  about  one  hundred  yards  apart.  The  enemy  was  the 
first  to  hail.  'What  ship  is  that?'  cried  he.  'This  is  her  Bri- 
tannic majesty's  steamer  Petrel/  we  replied.  We  now  hailed  in 
turn,  and  demanded  to  know  who  he  was.  .  .  .  We  heard 

the  words,  'This  is  the  United  States  ship .'  .  .  .  But 

we  had  heard  enough.  All  we  wanted  to  know  was  that  the 
stranger  was  a  United  States  ship,  and  therefore  our  enemy. 
.  .  .  Presently  the  stranger  hailed  again,  and  said,  'If  you 
please,  I  will  send  a  boat  on  board  of  you.'  .  .  .  We  replied, 
'Certainly,  we  shall  be  happy  to  receive  your  boat.'  While  the 
Yankees  were  lowering  their  boat,  Captain  Semmes  ordered  his 
first  lieutenant  to  tell  the  enemy  who  they  were.  Lieutenant  Kell 
now  sang  out  in  his  powerful  clarion  voice,  through  his  trumpet : 
'This  is  the  Confederate  States  steamer  Alabama,'  and  turning 
to  the  crew,  who  were  all  standing  at  their  guns  (the  gunners 
with  their  sights  on  the  enemy  and  lockstrings  in  hand),  gave 
the  order,  'Fire !'  Away  went  the  broadside  in  an  instant,  our 
little  ship  feeling  perceptibly  the  recoil  of  her  guns.  . 


456  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"As  a  matter  of  course  our  guns  awakened  the  echoes  of  the 
coast  far  and  near,  announcing  very  distinctly  to  the  Federal 
admiral, — Bell,  a  Southern  man  who  had  gone  over  to  the  en- 
emy,—  that  the  ship  which  he  had  sent  out  to  chase  the  strange 
sail  had  a  fight  on  her  hands.  He  immediately,  we  afterwards 
learned,  got  under  way,  with  the  Brooklyn  (his  flagship)  and 
two  others  of  his  steamers,  and  came  out  to  the  rescue. 

"Our  broadside  was  returned  instantly,  the  enemy,  like  our- 
selves, having  been  on  his  guard,  with  his  men  standing  at  their 
guns.  The  two  ships,  when  the  action  commenced,  had  swerved 
in  such  a  way  that  they  were  now  heading  in  the  same  direc- 
tion— the  Alabama  fighting  her  starboard  broadside  and  her 
antagonist  her  port  broadside.  Each  ship,  as  she  delivered  her 
broadside,  put  herself  under  steam,  and  the  action  became  a 
running  fight,  in  parallel  lines,  or  nearly  so,  the  ships  now  near- 
ing  and  now  separating  a  little  from  each  other. 

"My  men  handled  their  pieces  with  great  spirit  and  commend- 
able coolness,  and  the  action  was  sharp  and  exciting  while  it 
lasted,  which,  however,  was  not  very  long,  for  in  just  thirteen 
minutes  after  firing  the  first  gun  the  enemy  hoisted  a  light  and 
fired  an  off-gun  as  a  signal  that  he  had  been  beaten.  We  at  once 
withheld  our  fire,  and  such  a  cheer  went  up  from  the  brazen 
throats  of  my  fellows  as  must  have  astonished  even  a  Texan  if 
he  had  heard  it.  We  now  steamed  up  quite  close  to  the  beaten 
steamer  and  asked  her  captain  formally  if  he  had  surrendered. 
He  replied  that  he  had.  I  then  inquired  if  he  was  in  want  of 
assistance,  to  which  he  responded  promtply  that  he  was;  that 
his  ship  was  sinking  rapidly,  and  that  he  needed  all  our  boats. 
There  appeared  to  be  much  confusion  on  board  the  enemy's  ship ; 
officers  and  crew  seemed  to  be  apprehensive  that  we  would  permit 
them  to  drown,  and  several  voices  cried  aloud  to  us  for  assist- 
ance at  the  same  time." 

The  beaten  ship  turned  out  to  be  the  Hatteras,  commanded 
by  Captain  Blake,  who,  in  referring  to  the  conduct  of  Captain 
Semmes,  says:  "After  considerable  delay,  caused  by  the  report 
that  a  steamer  was  seen  coming  from  Galveston,  the  Alabama 
sent  us  assistance,  and  T  have  the  pleasure  of  informing  the  de- 
partment that  every  living  being  was  conveyed  safely  from  the 
Hatteras  to  the  Alabama." 


L  UB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  457 


The  Hatteras  was  of  100  tons  burden,  and  a  larger  vessel  than 
the  Alabama,  but  each  carried  the  same  armament — eight  guns. 
The  crew  of  the  Hatteras  was  108  strong ;  that  of  the  Alabama 
110. 

The  Yankees  reported  two  killed  and  five  wounded.  The  Con- 
federates had  only  one  man  wounded.  Captain  Semmes'  human- 
ity on  this  occasion  contrasts  strongly  with  Captain  Winslow's 
barbarity  toward  the  Alabama's  drowning  crew  in  the  English 
Channel  in  June,  1864,  a  year  and  five  months  later. 

"As  soon  as  the  action  was  over/'  continues  Captain  Semmes 
in  his  account  of  the  defeat  of  the  Hatteras,  "and  I  had  seen  the 
Hatteras  sink,  I  caused  all  lights  to  be  extinguished  on  board 
my  ship,  and  shaped  my  course  again  for  the  passage  of  Yucatan. 
In  the  meantime  the  enemy's  boat  which  had  been  lowered  for 
the  purpose  of  boarding  me,  pulled  in  vigorously  for  the  shore  as 
soon  as  it  saw  the  action  commence,  and  landed  safely ;  and  Ad- 
miral Bell  with  his  three  steamers  passed  on  either  side  of  the 
scene  of  action, — the  steamers  having  scattered  in  the  pursuit 
to  cover  as  much  space  as  possible.  ...  As  one  of  the  steam- 
ers was  returning  to  her  anchorage  off  Galveston  the  next  morn- 
ing in  the  dejected  mood  of  a  baffled  scout,  she  fell  in  with  the 
sunken  Hatteras,  whose  royal  masts  were  just  above  the  water. 
.  .  .  It  told  the  only  tale  of  the  sunken  ship  which  her  con- 
sort had  to  take  back  to  the  admiral.  The  missing  boat  turned 
up  soon  afterwards  and  the  mystery  was  then  solved." 

It  had  now  become  apparent  that  the  Texas  coast  had  no 
laurels  for  the  Yankee  naval  commanders. 

Commodore  Bell,  off  Galveston,  on  January  21st,  issued  a 
proclamation  which  recited  that  whereas  the  city  of  Galveston 
was  held  and  occupied  by  Confederate  troops  who  were  erecting 
defenses  in  and  around  said  city,  in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States,  foreign  consuls,  foreign  subjects,  and  all  other 
persons  concerned,  were  warned  that  the  city  and  its  defenses 
were  liable  to  be  attacked  at  any  time  by  the  forces  under  his 
command,  and  that  twenty-four  hours  were  given,  from  5  p.  m. 
that  day,  for  innocent  and  helpless  persons  to  withdraw.  This 
caused  considerable  excitement,  and  was  followed  by  a  stampede 
of  non-combatants. 

The  spirits  of  the  troops,  however,  were  high,  and  they  were 


458  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


eager  for  fight.  One  of  the  men  wrote  home :  "Our  batteries  are 
enlarged,  improved,  and  greatly  secured;  our  fleet-boats  lie 
dreamily  upon  the  tide,  but  ready  at  any  moment  to  growl  forth 
an  angry  defiance ;  our  soldiers,  confident  in  the  skill,  judgment, 
and  courage  of  our  commanding  general  and  the  officers  under 
him,  regard  the  enemy  outside  the  bar  with  a  speculative  eye, 
calculating  the  number  of  good  coats  aboard,  variety  of  grub, 
and  the  time  of  division." 

On  the  29th  the  Brooklyn,  with  the  gunboats  Owasco,  Katah- 
din,  Sciota,  and  Itasca,  attacked  our  batteries.  The  Brooklyn 
opened  fire  with  three  well  directed  shots  at  Fort  Scurry  (situ- 
ated at  the  foot  of  Market  Street),  which  was  returned  by  a  ten- 
inch  Columbiad,  one  shot  passing  close  to  one  of  the  gunboats. 
The  fight  lasted  an  hour,  the  Federals  firing  forty-four  shots, 
aimed  chiefly  at  our  defenses.  A  few,  however  (whether  inten- 
tionally or  from  the  motion  of  the  vessel  is  not  known),  were  so 
directed  that  they  struck  in  the  city,  causing  some  damage.  Be- 
yond the  killing  of  one  of  our  horses,  there  were  no  casualties 
on  our  side ;  and,  as  far  as  known,  none  on  that  of  the  enemy. 

In  a  few  days  Colonel  Cook,  under  a  flag  of  truce,  visited  the 
Brooklyn  and  was  courteously  received  by  Commodore  Bell,  who, 
on  being  informed  that  the  hospitals  (containing  Confederate 
and  Federal  wounded)  were  in  range  of  the  guns  of  the  fleet, 
and  that  many  women  and  children  were  in  the  city,  apologized, 
saying  that  the  shells  were  not  intentionally  fired  into  Galveston, 
but  had  been  aimed  by  the  gunners  at  the  Harriet  Lane  in  the 
harbor  and  the  shore  batteries. 

Commodore  Bell  was  also  informed  that,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  foreign  consuls  the  blockade,  having  been  successfully  broken, 
could  not  be  re-established  till  they  had  communicated  with  their 
respective  governments.  To  this  last  communication  the  commo- 
dore made  no  reply,  but  the  shelling  ceased. 

The  Yankees  being  now  on  the  defensive,  General  Magruder 
wished  to  break  the  blockade  off  Sabine  Pass,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose ordered  Maj.  0.  M.  VVatkins  (one  of  his  efficient  staff  offi- 
cers) to  collect  and  assemble  in  Sabine  River,  and  arm  and  man, 
whatever  boats  he  could  procure.  Only  two  little  steamboats 
were  to  be  had.  These  were  the  Josiah  Bell,  once  a  packet  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  459 


Brazos,  and  the  Uncle  Ben,  a  very  light-draft  boat  that  in  good 
stages  ascended  the  Sabine  as  far  as  Smith  County  for  cotton. 

These  little  stern-wheelers,  when  piled  up  with  cotton,  took  on 
board  their  armaments  and  complements  of  men.  The  larger 
vessel,  the  Josiah  Bell,  under  Capt.  Charles  Fowler,  carried  a 
thirty-two-pounder  and  about  200  soldiers,  principally  from  Sib- 
ley's  veteran  brigade ;  while  the  Uncle  Bee,  under  Captain  John- 
son, carried  two  eighteen-pounders  and  about  100  soldiers  from 
Spaight's  battalion. 

All  preparations  having  been  completed,  the  improvised  Con- 
federate flotilla,  the  flagship  Bell  leading  the  way,  steamed  down 
the  river  to  the  Pass  during  the  forenoon  of  January  20,  1863. 
Keeping  quiet  during  the  night,  the  expedition  got  under  way 
early  next  morning,  heading  for  the  bar.  Major,  or  Commodore 
Watkins,  as  he  may  be  properly  called  now,  discovered  a  Federal 
ship  and  schooner  in  the  offing,  several  miles  away,  and  boldly 
bore  down  on  them. 

The  Yankees,  declining  combat  with  such  novel  craft,  turned 
sail  in  flight.  An  exciting  chase  at  once  ensued,  and  continued 
far  but  into  the  open  sea.  <rWhen  within  five  or  six  miles,  at 
about  8  a.  m.,"  says  Zack  Sabel,  "the  Bell  opened  fire  with  a 
thirty-two-pound  rifle-gun,  called  the  Magruder.  Our  shot  fell 
short  and  we  ceased  firing.  A  few  minutes  later  the  enemy's  ship, 
the  Morning  Light,  opened  fire  on  the  Bell  with  round  shot,  shell, 
and  grape,  but  all  fell  short.  At  the  same  time,  the  Bell  stopped 
for  the  Uncle  Ben  to  come  up ;  when  both  boats  moved  on  to  the 
attack.  At  this  time  the  Yankee  shot  and  shell  were  flying  thick 
around  the  Bell.  Next,  the  Yankee  commander,  finding  our 
two  boats  were  closing  on  him,  changed  his  position  and  paid  his 
compliments  to  Uncle  Ben  in  a  discharge  of  guns  at  her.  All  the 
while  Lieut.  E.  W.  Dowling  (since  famous  for  his  defense  of 
Fort  Griffin),  of  the  First  Texas  artillery,  Cook's  regiment, 
was  doing  good  work  with  the  Magruder,  and  meantime  the 
Tiorse  marines'  (Sibley's  brigade)  were  pouring  volley  after  vol- 
ley into  the  helpless  crew  of  the  ship.  The  schooner  now  dodged, 
coming  from  the  lee  of  the  ship,  and  fired  one  shot  at  the  Bell, 
which  did  not  take  effect.  A  little  after  9  the  Yankee  ship 
struck  her  colors  to  the  Bell,  and  simultaneously  the  schooner 
(Velocity  or  Fairy)  struck  hers  to  the  Uncle  Ben.  I  can  not 


460  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


say  all  that  might  be  said  in  regard  to  the  boarding.  I  received 
the  swords  of  the  Yankee  captain  and  first  lieutenant. 

"Capt.  Chas.  Fowler,  of  the  Bell,  behaved  with  great  coolness, 
as  all  who  know  him  will  readily  believe,  and  gave  his  orders  to 
his  men  to  take  good  aim  and  waste  no  ammunition.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  Uncle  Ben  (Captain  Johnson)  also  deserves  much 
credit  for  his  cool  intrepidity.  Captain  Odium  stood  firmly  at 
his  post,  directing  the  Magruder  in  its  work  of  destruction. 

"I  took  charge  of  the  ship,  by  direction  of  Captain  Fowler. 
After  the  sails  were  furled  and  the  ship  was  in  tow  of  the  Bell, 
a.nd  the  schooner  of  the  Uncle  Ben,  I  made  examination  of  the 
ship's  condition.  I  found  one  leak,  but  her  hull  had  been  hit 
by  a  thirty-two-pound  shell,  which  struck  at  the  second  porthole, 
on  the  port  side,  and  exploded,  killing  one  man  and  wounding 
five  others.  We  have  now  brought  the  prizes  all  safe  to  the  bar, 
and  are  ready  for  another  fight. 

"P.  S. — The  names  of  the  vessels  captured  are  the  Morning 
Light  and  the  Velocity,  the  former  1500  tons  and  the  latter  75 
or  80  tons.  The  ship  is  armed  with  eight  thirty-two-pound 
smooth-bore  guns.  The  schooner  is  armed  with  two  twelve- 
pound  brass  howitzers.  The  schooner  will  make  a  good  gunboat, 
but  the  ship  is  of  too  heavy  draft  for  our  use." 

In  his  official  report  of  this  engagement  (dated  January  24, 
1863)  General  Magruder  says: 

"I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  Sabine  Pass  has  been  cleared 
of  the  enemy,  two  gunboats  which  I  fitted  up  on  the  Sabine  hav- 
ing captured  the  enemy's  blockading  squadron,  consisting  of  a 
twelve-gun  ship-of-war  and  a  schooner  man-of-war  of  two  guns, 
commanded  by  officers  of  the  United  States  navy.  Our  boats 
pursued  the  enemy  thirty  miles  at  sea,  during  which  time  a  run- 
ning fight  was  kept  up.  Finally  getting  them  under  fire  of  our 
Enfield  rifles,  they  surrendered  and  never  turned  back  to  the 
Pass. 

"The  expedition  was  under  command  of  Maj.  0.  M.  Watkins, 
of  my  staff,  and  was  fitted  out  under  my  orders  principally  by 
the  gallant  Leon  Smith,  now  in  command  of  the  Harriet  Lane 
and  the  rest  of  the  war  vessels  in  Galveston  harbor. 

"Major  Watkins  reports  that  he  captured  thirteen  heavy  guns, 
129  prisoners,  and  $100,000  worth  of  stores. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  461 


"The  commander  of  the  Federal  squadron  reports  that  the 
severe  naval  engagement  seen  from  Galveston  Island  a  few  nights 
ago  was  between  the  '290'  and  the  United  States  war  steamer 
Hatteras,  and  that  the  latter  was  sunk.  Many  fragments  of  the 
steamer  floated  ashore  on  Galveston  Island. 

"Our  steamers  in  the  late  engagement  were  commanded  by 
Captains  Fowler  and  Johnson,  sea  captains  of  Texas,  and  manned 
principally  by  volunteers  from  Pyron's  regiment  of  cavalry, 
Cook's  regiment  of  artillery,  and  Spaight's  battalion  of  infan- 
try." 

The  General  further  said:  "The  perseverance,  industry,  and 
firmness  of  the  commanding  officer,  Maj.  Oscar  M.  Watkins,  of 
the  Provisional  Army,  were  only  equaled  by  his  intrepidity,  ad- 
mirable coolness,  and  skill  in  battle.  Entirely  unaccustomed  to 
the  sea,  his  devotion  overcame  all  obstacles.  He  was  ably  and 
heroically  seconded  by  Captains  Fowler  and  Johnson,  respective 
commanders  of  the  steamers  Bell  and  Uncle  Ben;  by  Captains 
Odium,  O'Bryan,  Nolan,  and  Aycock,  and  Lieutenants  Bowling 
and  Aikens,  of  the  land  forces,  and  by  the  engineers,  pilots, 
troops  and  crews  of  the  expedition.  .  .  Our  mortal  foe  is 
again  gathering  strength  for  another  and  still  another  blow ;  but 
the  commanding  general  of  the  army  of  Texas  is  confident  that 
his  troops  will  return  their  blows  and  will  astonish  still  more 
their  enemies  and  the  world  by  such  evidences  of  skill  and  auda- 
city as  shall  make  'Texan'  a  better  word  than  'Spartan.' ': 

In  concluding  his  report  General  Magruder  recommended  that 
Major  Watkins  be  made  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  assistant  ad- 
jutant-general's department,  with  orders  to  report  to  him,  and 
that  Maj.  A.  M.  Lea,  well  known  to  the  President  as  a  graduate 
of  West  Point  of  great  merit,  be  made  colonel. 

Major  Lea  was  then  under  orders  to  take  command  of  a  corps 
of  engineers  on  the  Kio  Grande,  on  which  river  the  General  was 
endeavoring  to  fit  out  a  fleet  of  four  gunboats. 

A  month  of  incessant  preparation  by  Magruder,  and  now  be- 
hold the  results  of  another  month  of  active  fighting : 

The  destruction  or  expulsion  of  the  enemy's  land  and  naval 
forces  at  Galveston  and  the  permanent  occupation  of  the  island 
and  the  eastern  coast  by  the  Texans. 


462  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Three  successive  repulses  of  Yankee  naval  attacks  on  a  city 
before  pronounced  untenable. 

The  utter  destruction  of  the  blockading  fleet  off  Sabine  Pass 
by  our  river  cotton-clads  thirty  miles  from  land. 

The  raising  of  the  blockade  on  the  Texas  coast  from  the 
Brazos  eastward. 

The  enthusiasm  of  our  troops  raised  to  the  highest  pitch,  and 
a  feeling  of  confidence  and  hope  restored  to  the  people,  much  de- 
pressed by  the  do-nothing  policy  of  his  predecessor. 

The  moral  effects  were  not  the  least  important  of  the  results  of 
the  campaign. 

While  perfecting,  under  his  own  direction,  an  elaborate  sys- 
tem of  fortifications  in  Galveston  Bay,  the  General  had  also 
under  serious  contemplation  the  practicability  of  guarding  the 
southwest  frontier  of  the  Confederacy  with  a  fleet  of  cotton-clad 
gunboats  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  Texans  were  now  on  the  aggressive ;  there  was  little  repose 
for  our  wearied  troops,  and  none  for  Magruder's  indefatigable 
mind,  ever  on  the  alert  to  strike  the  assailable  points  of  the 
enemy. 

To  what  cause  or  causes  shall  the  accomplishment  of  these 
splendid  results  in  so  short  a  time  be  justly  assigned? 

Not  to  any  change  in  the  attitude  of  the  executive,  for  at  all 
times  and  on  all  occasions  I  co-operated  to  the  fullest  extent  of 
my  power,  no  less  with  Hebert  than  with  Magruder.  Only  I 
could  never  find  Hebert  ready.  Not  to  any  difference  in  the  men, 
for  they  were  all  of  the  same  mold  as  those  who  carried  Ben 
Milam  into  Bexar  and  Houston  into  Santa  Anna's  camp. 

In  my  mind  the  cause  was  a  difference  in  the  military 
commanders, — the  difference  between  a  theorist  and  a  proficient 
in  the  art  of  war. 

The  Texans  had  at  last  found  a  leader  worthy  of  their  confi- 
dence. 

It  is  not  hazarding  much  to  say  that  this  month's  campaign 
(January,  18G3)  is  the  most  brilliant  in  the  annals  of  Texas. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  463 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-FIVE. 

Extra  Session  of  the  Legislature  —  My  Message  in  Part  —  Lincoln's 
Emancipation  Proclamation  and  the  Negro  Question  —  The  Texas 
Quota  to  the  War — The  Frontier  Regiment — Yankee  Prisoners  — 
The  Support  of  Families  of  Texas  Soldiers  —  Domestic  Manufacto- 
ries—  Barbarities  of  the  Enemy  in  Louisiana  and  President  Davis' 
Policy  of  Retaliation  —  Frontier  Defense. 

Our  newspapers  agitated  the  subject  of  an  extra  session  of  the 
Legislature  on  account  of  the  slow  response  to  my  last  call  for 
troops,  and  to  meet,  by  retaliatory  legislation,  the  probable  con- 
sequences of  Lincoln's  preliminary  emancipation  proclamation 
issued  in  September,  1862. 

Convinced  of  its  necessity,  I  issued  a  call  December  30,  1862. 
for  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature,  to  convene  on  the  second 
day  of  February,  1863,  assigning  no  other  reason  than  that,  "in 
my  opinion,  the  condition  of  public  affairs,  both  State  and  Con- 
federate, rendered  it  necessary." 

Before  the  Legislature  met  Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation 
declaring  all  slaves  within  the  Confederate  lines  free,  and  incit- 
ing them  to  servile  insurrection  by  advising  them  to  commit  no 
more  violence  than  was  necessary  to  assert  and  secure  their  free- 
dom. 

It  became  at  once  a  matter  of  some  concern  to  us  to  know  what 
effect  the  proclamation  would  have  upon  the  negroes,  as  it  could 
not  be  kept  concealed  from  them,  and  also  to  know  what  policy 
the  Yankee  armies  would  pursue  in  aid  of  the  proclamation. 

The  need  for  prompt  and  effective  legislation  was  pressing. 
The  members  came  in  slowly,  and  organization  was  not  perfected 
until  the  5th. 

The  personnel  of  the  Legislature  had  undergone  great  changes, 
so  many  of  the  original  members  having  gone  to  the  war.  The 
circumstances  were  also  vastly  different. 

The  regular  session  adjourned  with  the  hope  of  an  early  recog- 
nition of  our  independence,  and  consequent  peace;  but  a  death 
grapple  with  the  enemy  for  twelve  months  had  followed,  and  the 
struggle  was  still  in  progress  and  its  issue  doubtful. 


464  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Nashville,  Memphis,  and  New  Orleans  had  been  occupied,  the 
border  States  overrun,  and  virtual  control  of  the  Mississippi  se- 
cured by  the  enemy.  Only  the  fortresses  of  Vicksburg  and  Port 
Hudson  on  the  great  river  were  left  to  us.  Our  many  brilliant 
victories,  dearly  bought  with  the  blood  of  our  bravest  and  best, 
had  only  checked,  without  turning  back,  the  overwhelming  ad- 
vance of  the  Yankees. 

While  the  great  body  of  our  people  in  Texas,  with  the  pluck 
characteristic  of  the  stock,  were  still  undaunted  and  had  nerved 
themselves  for  any  sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  independence,  there 
were  unmistakable  signs  of  a  latent  dissatisfaction  at  the  exist- 
ing state  of  things,  if  not  a  positive  disloyalty  to  the  Confed- 
eracy. Our  late  reverses  in  the  north  and  east  had  given  these 
traitors  an  audacity  not  entirely  repressed  by  the  late  glorious 
campaign  on  the  coast. 

The  Legislature  having  assembled  in  extra  session,  I  sent  into 
the  two  houses  a  carefully  prepared  message,72  the  following  ex- 
tracts from  and  summarizations  of  which  will,  perhaps,  prove 
interesting  to  the  reader,  as  they  will  give  him  a  good  idea  of  the 
condition  of  the  country  at  that  time : 

I  said  in  the  opening  paragraph:  "It  being  my  duty  to  con- 
vene the  Legislature  in  extraordinary  session  when  deemed  essen- 
tial for  the  public  good,  I  have  called  you  together  at  this  mo- 
mentous crisis  to  receive  your  aid  and  co-operation  in  the  adop- 
tion of  such  additional  measures  as  may  be  esteemed  of  vital 
importance  to  the  country."  And  continued : 

T»  The  Texas  Republican  of  February  19,  1863,  said  editorially:  "We 
have  read  with  great  pleasure  the  message  of  Governor  Lubbock  to  the 
Legislature  now  in  session  at  Austin,  and  have  only  to  regret  that  our 
space  will  not  permit  its  publication  entire  in  our  columns.  While  we 
may  not  agree  with  all  its  suggestions  and  recommendations,  there  are 
so  many  that  are  valuable,  it  contains  such  evidence  of  profound  reflec- 
tion upon  tho  condition  of  the  country  and  the  difficulties  that  environ 
us,  it  breathes  such  a  pure  and  lofty  spirit  of  patriotism,  that  we  feel 
involuntarily  drawn  by  the  strongest  bonds  of  sympathy  towards  its  au- 
thor, and  we  can  not  but  regret  that  we  ever  had  occasion,  or  thought 
we  had  occasion,  to  censure  him. 

"  As  a  State  paper  it  will  be  regarded,  in  our  judgment,  as  among 
the  very  best  that  have  been  produced  during  the  war.  We  have  seen 
no  message  emanating  from  any  Governor  in  the  Confederacy  that  ex- 
cels it,  or  is  entitled  to  a  higher  meed  of  praise." — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  465 


"Since  your  adjournment  the  war  has  been  prosecuted  by  our 
vindictive  and  remorseless  enemy  with  all  the  means  and  energy 
at  his  command. 

"Failing  in  the  clash  of  arms  and  shock  of  battle  to  conquer 
and  subdue  our  people,  no  expedient,  however  miserable,  con- 
temptible, and  despicable,  has  been  left  untried  by  him  to  induce 
the  citizens  of  the  Confederate  States  to  throw  off  their  allegiance 
to  the  government  of  their  choice,  and  espouse  a  cause  they  de- 
test and  abhor.  Whenever  the  fortune  of  war  has  placed  any  por- 
tion of  the  Confederacy  in  his  power,  after  exhausting  every 
means  of  persuasion,  without  success,  to  bring  the  people  'back 
to  their  allegiance/  he  has  resorted  to  the  most  unjust,  oppres- 
sive, and  cruel  measures, — confiscation,  imprisonment,  and  even 
the  taking  of  life  itself.  Yet  under  all  these  trials  our  citizens, 
with  a  few  dishonorable  exceptions,  have  remained  true  and  loyal 
to  the  Confederacy.  .  .  . 

"From  the  very  commencement  of  this  war  there  has  been  a 
studied  purpose  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  government  to 
Africanize  the  Southern  Confederacy,  which  fact  is  now  most 
plainly  developed  in  his  proclamation  of  the  22d  of  September, 
1862,  in  which  he  declares  that  'all  slaves  shall  be  free  in  the 
States,  or  parts  of  States,  found  in  rebellion  after  the  1st  of 
January,  1863,'  and  which  proclamation  has  been  approved  and 
sustained  by  the  United  States  Congress,  now  in  session,  by  the 
following  resolution :  'Eesolved,  that  the  proclamation  of  the 
President,  dated  September  22,  1862,  is  warranted  by  the  Con- 
stitution; that  the  policy  of  emancipation,  as  indicated  therein, 
is  well  adapted  to  hasten  the  restoration  of  peace,  is  well  chosen 
as  a  war  measure,  and  is  an  exercise  of  power  with  a  proper  re- 
gard to  the  rights  of  citizens  and  the  perpetuity  of  a  free  govern- 
ment.' " 

I  took  occasion  also  to  cornmend  the  action  of  President  Davis 
in  outlawing  "Beast"  Butler.73 

78  Of  Butler  President  Davis  truthfully  said:  "  He  has  disgraced  the 
government,  for  his  government  is  great  enough  to  be  just;  he  has  dis- 
graced his  country,  for  his  name  barbs  the  scorn  of  foreign  enemies  and 
justifies  the  severity  of  foreign  friends;  he  has  dishonored  the  chief 
magistrate  by  prescribing  him  to  ministers  of  the  gospel  as  the  subject 
of  their  compulsory  prayers;  he  has  disgraced  his  sex,  for  not  even 
30 


466  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"I  trust  3'our  honorable  body  will  fully  endorse  the  action  of 
the  President  and  sustain  the  Confederate  Congress  in  every 
measure  of  retaliation  that  may  be  adopted  against  our  foes,  who 
are,  in  effect,  h'ghting  us  under  the  blackest  and  most  damnable 
of  flags, —  a  flag  upon  whose  folds  is  inscribed  his  intention  and 
desire  to  incite  to  servile  war. 

"Our  Confederate  laws  have  proved  impotent  to  stay  the 
progress  of  negro  emancipation  wherever  the  Lincoln  soldiers 
have  gone. 

"While  I  recognize  the  right  of  the  Confederate  government 
to  dispose  of  prisoners  of  war  taken  by  its  armies,  and  that  it 
would  be  impolitic  and  inadvisable  for  the  State  to  interfere 
therewith,  I  yet  think  that  where  parties  are  taken  upon  our  soil 
committing  murder  and  arson  and  inciting  to  rebellion  our 
servile  population,  the  plea  that  they  are  soldiers  of  the  United 
States  government  should  not  be  allowed  to  save  them  from  the 
same  summary  punishment  as  would  be  visited  upon  our  own 
citizens,  if  convicted  of  the  same  nefarious  crimes.  .  .  . 

"It  is  too  true  we  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  many,  alas,  too 
many,  of  our  best  and  bravest. 

"Let  us,  however,  hope  they  have  not  died  in  vain, — that  for 
every  drop  of  blood  so  shed  in  the  cause  of  freedom  an  armed 
man  will  spring  up  to  do  battle  in  this  great  struggle.  Let  us 
cherish  the  memories  of  these  heroes,  and  ever  bear  in  remem- 
brance that  it  was  for  our  country  and  for  our  liberties  they 
yielded  up  all  that  was  dear  to  them  upon  earth.  When  peace 
shall  have  been  restored  to  our  fair  land,  let  their  ashes  repose 
in  the  bosom  of  the  State  they  loved  so  well,  and  upon  whose 
name  their  deeds  have  shed  so  imperishable  luster. 

"Let  a  hundred  columns  mark  the  spots  where  rest  their  ashes, 
the  tribute  of  a  grateful  people  proud  of  their  deeds,  and  let  them 
recount  to  our  children's  children  the  names  of  the  patriots  who 
yielded  their  lives  a  willing  sacrifice  upon  the  altars  of  Liberty. 


women  have  been  exempt  from  his  cruelty.  If  it  is  possible,  he  has  dis- 
graced himself,  for  the  most  subservient  tool  of  Southern  men  and  sub- 
servient lauder  of  Southern  institutions  has  become  their  most  bitter 
enemy,  seeking  a  place  for  the  heel  of  power  where  once  he  licked  the 
spittle  of  servility." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  467 


.  "I  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  the  absolute  necessity 
that  exists  of  making  further  provision  for  the  support  of  the 
families  of  those  in  the  service.  I  am  aware  that  counties  have 
been  very  liberally  providing  for  them  thus  far.  It  is,  however, 
useless  to  disguise  the  fact  that  this  burden  upon  them  must 
daily  increase  with  the  continuance  of  the  war;  and  should  the 
contest  be  prolonged  to  the  end  of  the  year,  it  will  be  necessary 
that  thousands  more  of  our  citizens  take  the  field,  thus  increas- 
ing the  number  of  families  in  every  county  to  be  provided  for. 
In  addition  to  what  the  counties  may  do,  I  am  of  opinion  the 
State  should  make  a  most  liberal  appropriation  for  this  purpose. 
The  troops  in  the  field  are  the  soldiers  not  of  a  particular  county, 
but  of  the  entire  State,  and  it  would  be  but  equitable  that  the 
State  provide  for  their  families.  This  plan  would  also  seem  just 
in  another  view.  Many  counties  with  the  smallest  population  are 
the  most  wealthy;  they  furnish  but  few  soldiers,  consequently; 
while  other  small  taxing  counties  have  a  large  excess  of  men  in 
the  field,  and  therefore  many  more  families  to  provide  for; 
hence,  it  is  but  just  they  should  be  cared  for  out  of  the  public 
treasury.  I  am  wedded  to  no  particular  plan  by  the  operation  of 
which  the  relief  sought  is  to  be  afforded,  but  I  must  earnestly  ad- 
vise that  ample  provision  be  made  to  ward  off  distress  from  the 
families  of  those  who  are  nobly  serving  their  country.  That 
there  will  be  destitution  among  them,  unless  such  provision  be 
made,  there  can  be  no  doubt.  .  .  ." 

I  recited  at  length  what  had  been  done  in  establishing  hospital 
funds  for  the  benefit  of  Texas  soldiers  in  various  parts  of  the 
Confederacy,  and  commended  the  ladies  for  their  noble  work  in 
the  matter. 

Discussing  another  important  subject,  I  said: 
"It  may  be  urged  that  such  legislative  action  (I  had  recom- 
mended that  farmers  be  required  to  plant  a  certain  portion  of 
their  lands  in  breadstuffs,  and  the  acreage  of  cotton  be  restricted 
to  not  exceeding  three  acres  to  the  hand)  would  be  an  unwar- 
rantable interference  with  a  legitimate  calling.  I  will,  in  reply, 
simply  say  that  'self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature;'  and 
the  axiom  may,  I  presume,  with  propriety  be  applied  to  com- 
munities and  States  as  well  as  to  individuals ;  and  I  am  con- 
vinced that,  unless  some  such  course  be  adopted,  there  will  be 


468  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


famine  in  the  land;  the  cry  for  bread  will  be  raised;  suffering 
will  ensue,  and  the  bold  and  brave  hearts,  gallantly  fighting  the 
fight  of  liberty,  will  be  bound  down  and  dispirited.  Let  me  there- 
fore urge  upon  your  honorable  body  to  give  this  matter  your 
most  serious  attention,  esteeming  it,  as  I  do,  of  supreme  import- 
ance. 

"In  connection  with  the  foregoing  subject,  it  is  with  regret  I 
call  your  attention  to  the  very  large  number  of  distilleries  now 
in  operation  and  being  put  in  operation  within  the  State.  The 
number  that  have  sprung  into  operation  since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war  might  be  deemed  fabulous. 

"On  the  29th  of  May  last  I  issued  a  proclamation  ordering  all 
such  establishments  to  be  closed,  deeming  it  of  superior  import- 
ance to  preserve  the  grain  for  the  use  of  the  army  and  people  and 
save  our  soldiery  from  the  pernicious  effects  resulting  from  the 
use  of  intoxicating  liquors.  I  was  at  the  same  time  convinced 
that  in  portions  of  the  State  the  crop  would  fall  very  short — a 
conviction  since  fully  verified.  Upon  the  issuance  of  that  procla- 
mation, most  of  the  parties  having  distilleries  desisted  from  their 
use,  although  some,  I  am  informed,  persisted  in  distilling. 

"I  directed  the  brigadier-generals  of  the  militia  to  enforce  the 
proclamation.  In  one  instance  the  brigadier  and  all  others,  in- 
cluding the  executive,  were  enjoined  from  interfering  with  the 
distillery  of  the  party  who  sued  out  the  injunction;  and,  inas- 
much as  I  had  concluded,  at  the  time  service  of  the  writ  was 
made  upon  me,  to  convene  your  honorable  body,  and  as  there  ap- 
peared to  be  some  doubt  as  to  my  authority  to  suppress  them,  I 
determined  to  submit  this  matter  for  your  consideration. 

"It  is  well  known  that  these  establishments  daily  come  into 
competition  with  the  county  courts  and  with  individuals  charged 
with  the  duty  of  providing  for  our  poor  and  the  families  of  our 
soldiers,  and  that  in  some  sections  of  the  State  they  have  caused 
the  price  of  corn  to  rise  to  double  its  value. 

"The  demoralizing  effects  of  these  distilleries,  both  upon  our 
troops  and  people,  are  terrible,  and  I  entreat  you,  in  the  name 
of  the  mothers,  wives,  and  children  of  those  brave  and  noble 
spirits  now  far  from  their  homes,  in  the  armies,  and  who  look 
to  you  to  guard  and  protect  them,  to  suppress  this  outrageous 
consumption  of  grain  and  iniquitous  traffic  until  peace  is  con- 
cluded. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  469 


"My  conviction  is,  there  is  but  one  way  to  effect  it.  The  execu- 
tive must  be  invested  with  authority  to  close  them  by  proclama- 
tion; and,  if  disregarded,  he  must  be  empowered  to  do  so  by 
means  of  a  military  force.  The  party  who  violates  the  proclama- 
tion should  also  be  liable  to  prosecution,  and  subjected  to  a  heavy 
fine  and  imprisonment — a  fine  alone  would  be  insufficient;  the 
enormous  profit  of  the  traffic  would  enable  the  party  easily  to 
satisfy  the  fine.  Heavy  penalties  should  also  be  imposed  upon 
persons  introducing  into  the  State  during  the  war  intoxicating 
liquors,  unless  by  special  permit  for  medicinal  purposes,  for  the 
use  of  the  army  hospitals." 

I  denounced  extortioners  and  monopolists  as  our  worst  ene- 
mies, saying  in  that  connection:  "They  croak  and  complain, — 
make  their  purchases  with  gold,  abuse  and  depreciate  the  Con- 
federate currency,  so  as  to  obtain  immense  profits, — reinvest,  and 
so  continue.  ...  In  the  language  of  President  Davis,  'They 
are  men  who  can  be  reached  by  no  moral  influence,  and  are  worse 
enemies  of  the  Confederacy  than  if  found  among  the  invading 
forces.  The  armies  in  the  field,  as  well  as  the  families  of  the 
soldiers,  and  others  of  the  people  at  home,  are  the  prey  of  these 
mercenaries,  and  it  is  only  through  State  action  that  their  traffic 
can  be  suppressed.  Their  condign  punishment  is  ardently  desired 
by  every  patriot.'  .  .  ." 

In  view  of  the  increasing  plethora  of  Confederate  money  in 
circulation,  I  recommended  a  higher  rate  of  taxation,  and  also 
favored  the  funding  system  of  the  Confederacy,  by  which  the 
government  notes  were  withdrawn  from  circulation. 

I  recommended  the  passage  of  a  law  for  the  impressment  of 
slave  labor  for  government  work,  and  a  law  to  deny  all  aliens  who 
refused  to  fight  for  us  the  right  to  hold  real  estate  and  become 
citizens  of  Texas. 

I  approved  the  conscript  law,  and  pledged  myself  to  aid  in  its 
enforcement. 

I  recommended  that  soldiers  be  allowed  to  vote  wherever  found 
in  the  army. 

After  recounting  my  efforts  and  failures  to  have  the  frontier 
regiment  accepted  by  the  Confederate  government,  I  went  on  to 
say  in  my  message : 

"This  regiment  has  performed  good  and  efficient  service.     It 


470  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


has  given  the  settlers  confidence.  Many  good  men  have  joined 
the  Confederate  service  and  gone  beyond  the  limits  of  the  State, 
leaving  their  families  and  property,  because  they  had  confidence 
in  that  organization  and  believed  the  State  was  determined  to 
protect  its  frontier.  These  counties  with  their  sparse  population 
have  nobly  responded  to  the  call  of  their  country.  They  should 
be  sustained.  Unless  protection  be  afforded  them  the  frontier 
must  recede,  for  just  as  soon  as  you  fail  to  keep  up  a  system  of 
defense  in  your  outer  counties,  the  Indians  will  press  forward 
upon  the  interior,  robbing  and  murdering. 

"That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Confederate  government  to  protect 
our  frontier  there  is  and  can  be  no  question ;  but  it  must  be  borne 
in  mind  that  we  are  now  engaged  in  a  desperate  war,  and  that 
the  government  has  need  of  every  man  she  can  procure  to  operate 
against  an  enemy  more  barbarous  than  the  Indian,  hence  the 
necessity  of  the  State  authorities  to  look  to  the  safety  of  the  peo- 
ple on  her  exposed  borders.  They  must  be  protected  at  all 
hazards  and  at  any  cost.  Treasure  must  not  weigh  against  the 
blood  of  our  women  and  children. 

"The  frontier  regiment  has  entered  the  service  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war,  looking  to  its  transfer  to  the  Confederate 
service.  They  are  willing  and  expect  to  be  transferred,  should  it 
be  the  pleasure  of  your  honorable  body.  With  the  exercise  of  the 
most  rigid  economy  the  expense  of  keeping  the  regiment  in  the 
field  up  to  this  time  has  been  about  $800,000.  I  beg  leave  to 
suggest  the  following  plan  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier  in 
addition  to  what  the  Confederate  government  may  do :  Let  some 
twenty-five  counties,  on  a  line  from  the  Red  River  to  the  Rio 
Grande,  be  selected ;  appoint  in  each  of  such  counties  a  captain 
and  twenty  men  (citizens  of  the  same),  who  will  be  sworn  in  as 
soldiers  for  service  on  the  border;  pay  to  each  of  said  captains 
$750,  and  to  each  man  $500  per  annum ;  these  troops  to  furnish 
their  own  horses,  arms,  and  subsistence ;  appoint  one  or  two  com- 
missioners whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  travel  along  the  line,  receive 
reports  as  to  the  management  of  the  companies,  their  efficiency, 
and  the  protection  they  afford,  paying  off  the  companies  and 
exercising  a  general  supervision  over  the  line. 

"This  plan  would  give  about  500  men,  and  would  not  cost  the 
State  exceeding  $300,000  per  annum,  about  one-fourth  what  it 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  471 


will  cost  at  the  present  enormous  prices  of  subsistence,  etc.,  to 
keep  a  regiment  like  the  present  in  the  field,  and  would,  I  be- 
lieve, give  protection  and  satisfaction  to  the  settlers. 

"It  would  take  but  a  short  time  to  perfect  this  system  of  de- 
fense. We  could  then  turn  over  the  present  regiment  to  the  Con- 
federate government  without  much  risk,  and,  whenever  that  gov- 
ernment should  place  upon  the  frontier  a  force  adequate  to  its 
protection,  we  could  disband  any  organization  the  State  might 
have  in  service.  .  .  ."74 

In  referring  further  to  the  conduct  of  the  war,  I  said :  "Since 
that  time  [i.  e.,  a  date  specified. — ED.]  Texas  has  placed  in  the 
field  near  seventy  regiments  of  as  good  and  true  men  as  ever  drew 
sword  or  shouldered  rifle  in  defense  of  liberty  against  tyranny. 

"From  accurate  data,  Texas  has  furnished  to  the  Confederate 
States  military  service  thirty-three  cavalry  and  ninety  infantry 
regiments,  thirty  of  which  (twenty-one  cavalry  and  nine  in- 
fantry) have  been  organized  since  the  requisition  of  February 
3,  1862,  for  fifteen  regiments,  being  the  quota  required  from 
Texas  to  make  her  quota  equal  to  the  quotas  from  other  States ; 
besides  thirteen  battalions,  two  squadrons,  and  six  detached  com- 
panies of  cavalry,  and  one  legion  of  twelve  companies  of  infantry, 
two  batteries,  one  company  unattached,  one  legion  of  two  bat- 
talions, and  one  light  battery  and  one  regiment  of  artillery  and 
eleven  light  batteries,  making  62,000  men,  which,  with  the  State 
troops  in  actual  service,  namely,  6500  men,  form  an  aggregate 
of  68,500  Texans  in  military  service,  constituting  an  excess  of 
4773  over  the  highest  popular  vote,  which  was  63,727. 

"From  the  best  information  within  reach  of  this  department 
upon  which  to  base  an  estimate  of  the  men  now  remaining  in  the 
State  between  the  ages  of  16  and  60  years,  it  is  thought  that  the 
number  will  not  exceed  27,000."  I  approved  the  recommendation 
of  the  adjutant-general  that  these  be  enrolled  for  an  emergency. 

"To  insure  success,  unity  of  purpose  and  action  is  absolutely 
necessary  between  the  Confederate  and  State  governments. 
Hence  it  follows  that  every  act  of  any  citizen  or  citizens  calcu- 
lated to  weaken  the  influence  of  the  government  or  its  officers 

74  These  practical  suggestions  of  the  Governor  were  not  adopted,  as 
the  Legislature  still  hoped  to  transfer  the  frontier  regiment  to  the  Con- 
federate States. — ED. 


472  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


with  the  people  is,  in  my  judgment  (although  it  may  be  un- 
wittingly), aid  and  comfort  to  the  enemy.  Therefore,  since  my 
elevation  to  the  executive  chair  my  great  aim  has  been  to  aid  and 
co-operate  with  the  Confederate  authorities  in  all  things  tending 
to  a  proper  and  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war. 

"I  have  had  no  desire  to  render  myself  conspicuous  by  disput- 
ing with  the  civil  or  military  authorities  of  the  Confederate  gov- 
ernment on  immaterial  points ;  but  in  every  instance  when  there 
has  been  an  apparent  interference  with  the  rights  of  the  State,  or 
an  encroachment  upon  the  functions  of  the  executive,  the  atten- 
tion of  the  proper  officers  has  been  drawn  to  it,  and  the  cause  of 
complaint  has  been  promptly  removed. 

"In  military  matters  there  should  be  one  sole  head.  Under 
the  Constitution  and  laws  I  recognize  President  Davis  as  that 
head;  and  while  he  conducts  his  administration  in  conformity 
to  the  Constitution  and  laws,  he  should  be  sustained  by  the  offi- 
cers, both  State  and  Confederate,  and  by  the  people 

"The  old  year  closed  brightly  for  us ;  the  new  year  opened  most 
propitiously.  Let  us  be  hopeful,  watchful,  prayerful, — let  each 
and  every  one  of  us  determine  to  forget  self,  and  by  his  precepts 
and  example  encourage  every  man  in  the  broad  land  to  devote 
himself,  his  means  and  ability,  to  the  service  of  his  country.  Let 
us  give  to  our  government,  the  government  of  our  choice  and  of 
our  affections,  an  earnest  support.  Let  us  sustain  and  cherish 
that  patriot  warrior-statesman  whom  we  unanimously  elected  to 
preside  over  our  destinies  and  to  guide  our  ship  of  state  through 
the  turbulent  sea  of  revolution, — who,  by  his  energy  and  devoted 
assiduity  to  the  welfare  of  the  country  and  interests  of  the  people, 
deserves  a  nation's  gratitude.  Let  us  with  heart  and  soul  resolve 
to  rally  around  those  brave  and  gallant  captains  who  daily  lead 
our  invincible  armies  to  victory.  Let  us  continue  to  fill  up  their 
ranks,  upon  their  demand,  should  it  take  our  last  man  and  our 
last  dollar,  looking  neither  to  foreign  nations  nor  the  hostile 
Democracy  of  the  North  for  aid.  Depending  alone  upon  God, 
our  strong  arms,  and  brave  hearts,  victory  will  soon  perch  upon 
our  banners  and  an  honorable  peace  be  conquered."75 

5  The  Henderson  Times  of  May  — ,  1863,  thus  summarizes  the  work 
of  Governor  Lubbock's  administration. — ED. 

Until  after  his  election  to  his  present  office  Governor  Lubbock  was 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  473 


A  whole  book  could  be  written  upon  the  frontier  of  Texas  and 
the  brave  men  standing  between  our  women  and  children  and 
the  tomahawks  and  scalping  knives  of  the  Indians,  urged  on  by 
brutal  emissaries  to  destroy  civilization.  These  men  remained 
on  that  line  faithfully  performing  their  duty,  without  the  stimu- 

by  no  means  a  favorite  of  ours,  nor  can  we  say  that  he  is  yet  a  great  fa- 
vorite; but  that  he  should  have  a  place  in  the  heart  of  every  true  Texan 
and  patriot  we  think  is  but  his  just  desert.  He  took  the  helm  of  State 
at  a  period  pregnant  with  dark  forebodings.  Texas  was  threatened 
with  invasion  from  the  north,  west,  and  east.  Aside  from  this,  a  large 
number  of  enemies  to  the  Confederacy  were  scattered  throughout  the 
State  who  were  ready  at  the  moment  opportunity  offered  to  join  the 
enemy  and  welcome  him  to  our  midst.  In  arms  and  munitions  of  war 
we  were  illy  prepared  to  make  successful  resistance.  To  supply  this  de- 
ficiency Governor  Lubbock  went  immediately  to  work.  Shops  for  the 
manufacture  of  arms  were  established  and  put  in  operation  in  different 
parts  of  the  State,  and  so  far  as  small  arms  are  concerned  we  are  now 
in  a  condition  to  almost  if  not  quite  supply  our  own  troops. 

"The  next  great  difficulty  that  presented  itself  was  the  lack  of  tents 
and  clothing  for  the  army  on  this  side  the  Mississippi.  New  Orleans 
had  fallen,  and  the  enemy  had  so  nearly  obtained  control  of  the  river  as 
to  render  it  impracticable  to  obtain  these  supplies  from  the  other  side. 
Governor  Lubbock  saw  the  difficulty,  and  by  the  exercise  of  the  greatest 
energy  and  perseverance  succeeded  in  making  great  additions  to  the 
machinery  in  operation  at  the  penitentiary  in  Huntsville.  The  demand 
was  soon  supplied.  By  the  time  this  was  accomplished,  the  families  of 
those  in  the  service  were  in  many  cases  beginning  to  suffer  for  clothing. 
By  renewed  energy,  means  were  provided  to  meet  this  emergency,  and 
the  cloth  is  now  being  delivered  and  will  continue  to  be  until  the  fam- 
ily of  every  soldier  making  application  shall  be  supplied  with  their 
quota. 

"Treasonable  combinations  and  indications  of  insurrection  were  dis- 
covered in  some  parts  of  the  State.  How  far  the  mischief  extended  was 
only  a  matter  of  conjecture.  The  only  means  of  safety  was  for  every 
county  to  be  in  a  condition  to  speedily  suppress  any  outbreak  of  this 
kind.  To  this  end  the  Governor  went  to  work  and  never  ceased  until 
every  county  applying  was  supplied  with  powder  and  lead. 

"But  if  anything  were  lacking  to  entitle  Governor  Lubbock  to  the 
undying  gratitude  of  his  countrymen  and  countrywomen,  his  last  act 
has  supplied  the  deficiency.  The  Military  Board,  of  which  he  is  the 
head,  announce  to  the  needy  families'  of  soldiers  that  they  have  pro- 
cured a  vast  number  of  cotton  cards  for  distribution,  and  that  the  same 
are  subject  to  the  order  of  the  county  courts  of  every  county  in  the 
State. 

"  It  is  not  alone  from  the  fact  that  through  the  energy  and  industry 
of  our  Governor  so  many  pressing  wants  have  been  met,  that  he  is  en- 


474  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


lus  of  military  glory  or  the  prospect  of  military  promotion  that 
was  felt  by  those  on  the  more  renowned  battlefields  of  the  large 
armies. 

The  protection  of  the  frontier,  always  a  question  of  great  so- 
licitude, was  peculiarly  so  during  the  war,  recognizing  as  we  did 
the  danger  of  invasion  by  the  Indian  enemy,  assisted  by  those 
determined  to  lay  waste  our  country.  The  cry  was  continually 
coming  from  the  settler  of  the  danger  to  his  wife  and  children. 
The  Legislature  was  slow  at  times  to  make  the  necessary  appro- 
priations for  defense.  The  Confederate  government  was  unable 
to  extend  the  necessary  protection,  and  refused  to  take  and  sup- 
port our  magnificent  frontier  regiment  with  conditions  looking 
to  their  remaining  on  our  line  of  defense.  These  facts,  together 
with  lack  of  arms  and  ammunition  in  that  part  of  the  country, 
kept  me  anxious  and  active,  knowing  full  well  the  importance  of 
maintaining  a  barrier  between  the  Indians  and  the  settlements. 
When  retiring  from  office,  I  could  but  congratulate  the  people 
and  feel  gratified  to  know  that  during  my  term  so  few  depreda- 

titled  to  eulogy,  but  that  the  articles  have  been  furnished  at  so  low  a 
figure,  frequently  not  amounting  to  one-tenth  the  amount  at  which 
speculators  sell  the  same  articles. 

"In  but  one  case  has  Governor  Lubbock  failed  to  meet  the  emer- 
gency and  extend  the  necessary  assistance;  we  allude  to  his  failure  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  destruction  of  breadstuffs  in  the  manufacture  of  spir- 
ituous liquors.  But  the  fault  was  not  with  him,  but  owing  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  not  properly  seconded  by  the  people.  All  that  one  man 
could  do  he  did,  and  when  all  other  means  failed,  as  a  last  resort  he 
called  to  his  aid  the  Legislature,  and  failing  to  receive  their  assistance 
of  course  he  could  but  yield  the  palm  to  those  who  felt  a  greater  inter- 
est in  the  accumulation  of  fortunes  for  themselves  than  in  the  feeding 
of  the  wives  and  children  of  those  who  are  in  the  military  service  of  the 
country. 

"  It  is  true  that  Governor  Lubbock  has  been  greatly  assisted  in  these 
various  undertakings  for  the  good  of  the  country,  and  others  are  entitled 
to  a  share  of  the  praise,  but  he  has  been  the  head  and  front,  and  the 
active  mover  in  all  of  them. 

"Such  aji  officer  is  a  boon  to  any  State,  and  we  can  not  but  regret 
that  he  has  determined  not  to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election.  Whether 
he  continues  in  public  or  retires  to  private  life,  he  has  won  for  himself 
a  name  as  a  patriot  and  statesman  that  the  malignity  of  his  enemies 
will  never  be  able  to  tarnish.  We  hope  we  may  be  able  to  say  as  much 
for  his  successor,  whoever  he  may  be." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  475 


tions  were  committed  by  the  savages,  and  that  no  formidable 
raids  were  made. 

To  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Confederate  States  army 
regulations,  that  each  regiment  should  be  composed  of  ten  com- 
panies, I  disbanded  the  frontier  regiment,  and  on  February  11, 
1863,  organized  from  the  same  material  another  regiment  (com- 
posed of  ten  companies),  called  the  Mounted  Kegiment  of  Texas 
State  Troops,  and  mustered  them  into  the  service  of  the  State 
for  three  years,  or  during  the  war.  The  regiment,  as  thus  re- 
organized, was  officered  as  follows: 

Colonel,  J.  E.  McCord ;  lieutenant-colonel,  J.  B.  Barry ;  major, 
W.  J.  Alexander;  A.  Q.  M.,  W.  W.  Reynolds;  A.  C.  S.,  C.  T. 
Freeman;  A.  Q.  M.  G.,  Ben  Henricks;  adjutant,  A.  H.  See. 

Captain  Company  A,  J.  M.  Hunter;  captain  Company  B, 
John  Lawhorn. 

First  lieutenant  company  C,  H.  Ward;  first  lieutenant  Com- 
pany D,  J.  T.  Rowland;  first  lieutenant  Company  E,  M.  B. 
Lloyd ;  first  lieutenant  Company  F,  H.  T.  Edgar ;  first  lieutenant 
Company  G,  N.  White;  first  lieutenant  Company  H,  R.  M. 
Whitesides ;  first  lieutenant  Company  I,  J.  J.  Callan ;  first  lieu- 
tenant Company  K,  W.  G.  O'Brien. 

In  remustering  the  regiment  for  three  years,  or  the  war,  ex- 
pecting as  I  did  to  transfer  it  to  the  Confederate  States,  I 
waived  the  power  of  appointment  vested  in  me  by  the  law  and 
gave  to  the  men  the  election  of  their  field  officers.  I  conceived  it 
would  prove  more  satisfactory,  and  it  was  a  right  they  would 
have  had  in  reorganizing  a  new  regiment  for  Confederate  service. 
I  am  pleased  to  say  that,  in  my  judgment,  they  made  a  very  good 
selection  of  officers. 

An  act  was  promptly  passed  defining  the  offense  of  inciting  in- 
surrection and  prescribing  the  punishment  therefor.  The  pre- 
amble of  the  act  was  as  follows : 

"Whereas,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  unholy  war  now  being 
waged  by  the  United  States  against  the  Confederate  States  and 
the  people  thereof,  our  enemies  are  seeking  to  bring  upon  us  a 
servile  war  by  arming  our  slaves  and  placing  them  in  the  ranks 
of  their  armies,  as  well  as  otherwise  through  the  action  of  their 
government  and  the  commissioned  officers  of  their  armies  incit- 
ing insurrection  and  insubordination;  therefore,  be  it  enacted," 
etc. 


476  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  offense  of  inciting  insurrection  was  defined  to  be,  for  any 
commissioned  officer  of  the  army,  navy,  or  marine  service  of  the 
United  States,  during  the  war,  to  invade  or  enter  upon  with  hos- 
tile intent,  the  territory  or  waters  of  this  State,  for  the  purpose 
of  accomplishing  any  of  the  objects  denounced  by  the  act.  The 
act  further  provided  that  any  person  so  offending  should,  on  con- 
viction, be  punished  by  confinement  in  the  penitentiary  not  less 
than  five  nor  more  than  fifteen  years;  and  that  only  such  per- 
sons should  be  subject  to  be  tried  under  its  provisions  as  might 
be  turned  over  by  the  Confederate  authorities  to  the  State,  and 
that  the  persons  so  convicted  should,  at  any  time  after  conviction, 
be  delivered  on  demand  of  the  President  to  the  Confederate 
authorities. 

Yankee  officers  continued  to  be  brought  in  as  prisoners,  but 
none  of  them  were  ever  tried  for  inciting  insurrection.  Indeed, 
the  law  was  a  dead  letter  from  the  start.  The  evil  effects  re- 
sulting to  us  from  the  emancipation  proclamation  and  the  policy 
sought  to  be  enforced  by  the  United  States  government  were  no- 
where so  great  as  Mr.  Lincoln  and  his  advisers  had  anticipated ; 
for,  contrary  to  the  general  expectation  in  the  North  the  negroes 
did  not,  on  the  approach  of  the  Yankee  armies,  rise  and  massacre 
the  whites  indiscriminately,  as  had  been  done  in  Santo  Dom- 
ingo. 

In  my  message  I  recommended  the  passage  of  an  act  to  deprive 
of  all  rights  of  citizenship  persons  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  enemy,  or  who  had  left  or  might  thereafter  leave  the  coun- 
try to  avoid  military  service,  or  who  should  join  the  enemy,  or  in 
any  way  give  them  aid  and  comfort;  and  the  measure  was 
promptly  enacted,  to  take  effect  from  and  after  its  passage.  Un- 
der its  provisions  prosecutions  for  these  offenses  were  not  barred 
till  five  years  after  the  ratification  of  a  treaty  of  peace  between 
the  Confederate  States  and  the  United  States.  It  is  needless  to 
state  that  no  prosecutions  were  instituted  under  this  statute.  In 
our  revolutionary  struggle  with  Mexico  we  recognized  the  same 
offenses  in  our  legislation,  with  somewhat  similar  penalties. 

Banks'  outrages  in  Louisiana  and  the  authority  he  arrogated 
to  himself  there  to  dispose  of  the  property  of  Confederate 
refugees  and  others,  led  to  the  passage  of  an  act  at  this  session  of 
the  Legislature  declaring  void  any  sale  made  by  the  public  enemy 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  477 


should  the  Federals  at  any  time  thereafter  occupy  any  portion  of 
the  territory  of  the  State  of  Texas.  This  was  a  warning  to  all 
purchasers  at  such  sales,  under  the  pretended  authority  of  the 
United  States  government.  Under  the  confiscation  acts  of  the 
United  States  Congress,  there  was,  presumably,  to  be  wholesale 
spoliation  of  the  people  of  the  South  and  sale  of  their  property, 
real,  mixed,  and  personal,  whenever  opportunity  offered.  Such 
miscreants  as  Butler  urged  the  Federal  representatives  on  to  the 
passage  of  such  legislation  and  sought  whenever  they  could  to 
enforce  it.  All  disguise  having  been  thrown  off,  Federal  com- 
manders and  soldiers  now  entered  upon  a  career  of  rapine  and 
robbery  that  has  tarnished  with  a  stain  of  ineffaceable  dishonor 
the  names  and  fame  of  all  who  prominently  engaged  in  it. 

The  Texas  enactment  was  intended  to  meet  a  possible  con- 
tingency, and  act  as  a  counter-check. 

In  the  same  line  of  legislation  an  act  was  passed  making  evad- 
ing, or  assisting  to  evade,  the  conscript  law  a  felony,  punishable 
by  confinement  in  the  penitentiary  for  a  term  of  years  not  ex- 
ceeding five. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  measure  perfected  at  the  session 
was  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  support  of  the  families  of  Texan 
soldiers."  This  was  a  favorite  measure  that  I  had  strongly 
recommended  in  my  message.  The  original  bill,  after  a  hard 
fight,  went  through,  shorn  of  much  strength  by  numerous  amend- 
ments. Under  its  provisions  $600,000  were  set  aside  for  the 
needy  families  of  our  soldiers,  to  be  distributed  by  the  county 
courts.  The  sum  should  have  been  much  larger.  Further  to 
provide  for  the  needs  of  our  people  at  home  and  our  men  in  the 
field,  an  act  was  passed  appropriating  $200,000  as  a  hospital  fund 
for  the  sick  and  wounded  Texan  soldiers  in  the  Confederate 
army ;  another  to  regulate  the  distribution  of  cloth  manufactured 
at  the  State  penitentiary  among  the  families  of  soldiers  in  the 
Confederate  army,  and  others  to  punish  any  person  or  persons 
who  should  obtain  goods  from  the  penitentiary  under  false  pre- 
tenses, or  speculate  in  goods  obtained  therefrom,  and  to  enlarge 
the  operations  of  the  penitentiary,  by  authorizing  the  purchase 
of  additional  machinery  and  the  employment  of  outside  labor. 

To  get  specie  to  pay  interest  on  bonds  held  by  creditors  of  the 
State,  the  Military  Board  was  authorized  to  sell  cotton  in  Mexico. 


478  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  Treasurer  was  authorized  to  pay  out  Confederate  treasury 
notes  for  civil  and  military  purposes. 

The  act  to  perfect  the  organization  of  State  troops  was  so 
amended  that,  on  call,  the  Governor  might  order  into  camps  the 
whole  militia  force,  preparatory  to  a  draft  for  filling  a  requisi- 
tion; the  various  drills  previously  prescribed  were  suspended 
during  the  war  and  exemptions  were  denned  and  enumerated 
anew. 

All  stay  laws  and  statutes  of  limitation  were  definitely  sus- 
pended by  suitable  enactment  till  after  the  war. 

The  ad  valorem  State  tax  was  raised  from  25  cents  to  50  cents 
on  the  $100.  The  additional  burden  was  scarcely  felt,  owing  to 
the  plethora  of  Confederate  and  State  paper  money,  made  neces- 
sary by  the  increasing  expenditures  of  the  war. 

As  the  war  progressed,  shutting  off  supplies  from  abroad,  there 
arose  a  greater  demand  for  factories.  Among  the  companies 
chartered  by  this  Legislature  were : 

The  Comal  Manufacturing  Company,  with  John  F.  Torrey, 
Henry  Runge,  --  Herman,  A.  H.  Runge,  and  oiners,  as  stock- 
holders. Its  object  was  the  manufacture  of  cotton  and  woolen 
goods  and  such  other  articles  as  said  company  might  at  any  time 
choose  to  manufacture.  Located  at  New  Braunfels.  Capital 
stock  not  to  exceed  $500,000. 

The  Jackson  Manufacturing  Company,  S.  P.  and  B.  P.  Hol- 
lingsworth,  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  James  Crow,  of  the  State 
of  Alabama,  and  others,  incorporators ;  to  erect,  own,  maintain, 
and  operate  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cottan  and  woolen 
goods  and  other  articles,  separately  or  conjointly,  at  such  place 
or  places  as  the  company  might  select.  Capital  stock  not  to  ex- 
ceed $200,000. 

The  Texas  Paper  Manufacturing  Company,  David  Richard- 
son, Samuel  Mather,  and  Dr.  Theodore  Koester,  and  others,  in- 
corporators; to  erect  and  establish  in  the  county  of  Comal  ma- 
chinery and  establishments  for  the  manufacture  of  paper,  and 
operate  the  same.  To  be  exempt  from  taxation  for  five  years,  if 
the  plant  was  put  in  operation  during  the  war.  Capital  stock, 
$50,000. 

The  Texas  Iron  Company,  J.  S.  Nash,  Win.  Nash,  James 
Alley,  H.  P.  Perry,  Josiah  D.  Perry,  Jonathan  Adams,  R.  R. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  479 


Haynes,  and  Thomas  D.  Powell,  incorporators ;  to  erect,  own, 
maintain,  and  operate  a  manufactory  of  iron  and  steel  goods 
of  every  description  and  all  other  articles  of  which  iron  or  steel 
might  form  a  part,  at  such  place  or  places  as  the  company  might 
select  within  the  counties  of  Marion  and  Davis  [now  Cass. — ED.] 
Capital  stock  not  to  exceed  $1,000,000. 

The  Texas  Lead  and  Copper  Mine  Company,  Louis  Wills, 
Josephus  M.  Steiner,  Geo.  W.  White,  and  others,  incorporators; 
for  the  location  and  working  of  lead  and  copper  mines,  the  State 
relinquishing  to  said  corporation  all  its  right,  title,  and  claim 
to  all  minerals  that  might  be  found  on  any  patented  or  located 
lands  that  said  company  might  select  and  purchase,  not  to  ex- 
ceed 1280  acres ;  provided  work  was  begun  by  the  company  within 
a  year  from  passage  of  the  act. 

About  this  time  also  was  developed  a  rage  for  mutual  aid  so- 
cieties, and  quite  a  number  were  chartered  by  the  Legislature. 
Among  these  were : 

The  San  Antonio  Mutual  Aid  Association,  organized  for  the 
conduct  of  a  general  mercantile  business. 

The  Columbus  Mutual  Aid  Association,  C.  W.  Tait,  Stephen 
Harbert,  E.  P.  Whitfield,  Isom  Took,  A.  M.  Campbell,  and 
others,  incorporators;  to  conduct  a  general  mercantile  business, 
the  charter  requiring  the  incorporators  to  "sell  to  families  of  sol- 
diers at  cost." 

The  Caldwell  County  Mutual  Aid  Society,  T.  E.  Heppenstall, 
0.  0.  Searcy,  W.  A.  Clark,  W.  S.  Carpenter,  J.  S.  Proctor,  W. 
E.  Cowan,  G.  W.  Shoof,  and  others,  incorporators;  to  purchase 
and  deal  in  any  kind  of  provisions,  family  supplies,  and  mer- 
chandise, and,  after  supplying  themselves,  sell  the  remainder  of 
said  provisions,  supplies,  and  merchandise;  provided,  that  all 
goods  disposed  of  to  families  of  soldiers  should  be  sold  to  them 
at  cost,  and  to  others  at  a  profit  not  exceeding  25  per  cent  above 
cost,  the  object  of  the  association  being  "mutual  aid  in  procuring 
supplies  for  the  needy  and  protection  against  speculators  and  ex- 
tortioners." 

The  Washington  County  Mutual  Aid  Association,  A.  H. 
Rippetoe,  John  P.  Key,  J.  D.  Giddings,  Gilbert  Buchanan,  N. 
Kavanaugh,  John  H.  Dawson,  and  others,  stockholders ;  to  do  a 
general  mercantile  business;  with  the  usual  provision  that  after 


480  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


supplying  themselves,  they  should  sell  to  the  families  of  soldiers 
at  cost. 

The  Goliad  Aid  Association;  empowering  D.  Hardeman, 
William  Evans,  A.  H.  Biscoe,  J.  Alison  Dill,  J.  A.  Bobbins,  John 
A.  Clark,  J.  M.  Brown,  and  Pryor  Lea,  or  any  three  of  them,  as 
commissioners,  to  organize  a  joint  stock  association,  to  consist  of 
the  persons  before  named,  or  any  of  them,  and  their  associates 
and  successors ;  such  joint  stock  association  to  procure  and  fur- 
nish necessaries  to  its  members,  and  to  the  families  and  other 
dependents  of  officers  and  soldiers,  who  have  been  or  may  be  in 
the  military  service  of  either  the  Confederate  or  the  State  govern- 
ment, and  for  general  market  within  the  area  of  Goliad  and 
neighboring  counties,  at  prices  not  to  exceed  cost  and  25  per  cent 
profit.  Capital  stock,  $100,000. 

Nor  was  education  forgotten  in  this  furore  of  incorporation, 
for  at  this  session  of  the  Ninth  Legislature  was  chartered  the 
Dallas  Male  and  Female  College,  with  J.  M.  Patterson,  W.  H. 
Thomas,  M.  T.  Johnson,  R.  M.  Gano,  A.  M.  Moore,  J.  W. 
throckmorton,  P.  Taylor,  T.  C.  Hawpe,  B.  W.  Stone,  J.  J.  Good, 
S.  B.  Pryor,  J.  J.  Eakin,  A.  C.  Halleck,  R.  B.  Scott,  and  John 
N.  Bryan,  and  their  successors  in  office,  as  a  board  of  trustees, 
with  succession  for  the  term  of  fifty  years ;  the  college  to  be  non- 
sectarian,  admit  male  and  female  students,  and  give  instruction 
in  all  branches  of  education  usually  taught  in  institutions  of  a 
similar  character,  and,  in  addition  thereto,  instruct  such  male 
pupils  as  might  be  able  to  perform  military  duty,  and  desire  such 
knowledge,  in  the  science  of  arms. 

The  following  important  joint  resolutions  were  adopted  at  the 
session : 

( 1 )  A  joint  resolution  providing  for  a  pony  express  between 
the  Mississippi  and  the  Rio  Grande,  two  trips  to  be  made  each 
week  from  Brownsville  on  the  Rio  Grande  to  some  safe  place  on 
the  Mississippi,  each  trip,  if  practicable,  in  five  days;  the  express 
to  carry  letters  only,  the  rate  of  postage  to  be  fixed  by  the  Post- 
master-General of  the  Confederacy. 

(2)  "That  the  people  of  Texas,  acknowledging  with  heartfelt 
gratitude  the  favor  of  God  in  the  brilliant  achievements  of  our 
Confederate  armies,  do  hereby  formally  and  sincerely  tender  to 
the  officers  and  privates  in  the  military  service  of  the  country, 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  481 


from  Texas,  the  thanks  and  praises  they  have  so  justly  merited 
by  their  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  their  country  and  their  many 
deeds  of  valor  upon  every  battlefield  of  the  Confederacy. 

"In  the  name  of  a  gallant  State  and  a  gallant  people,  we  thank 
you.  In  the  name  of  your  mothers,  your  wives,  and  your  sisters, 
we  thank  you  for  your  gallant  deeds. 

"You  have  won  for  yourselves  imperishable  renown.  You 
have  won  for  your  State  the  highest  honors. 

"Kesolved,  That  while  our  brave  troops  are  battling  so  glo- 
riously for  the  dearest  interests  of  our  people,  we  recognize  it  as 
a  sacred  obligation  to  provide  for  their  comfort,  and  to  support 
and  cherish  their  families  at  home. 

"Kesolved,  That  the  faith  of  the  State  of  Texas  is  hereby 
pledged  to  our  soldiers  in  the  field,  that  their  families  shall  be 
nourished  and  supported  during  the  war. 

"Kesolved,  That  the  Governor  be  instructed  to  have  a  copy  of 
this  resolution  transmitted  to  every  Texas  regiment  now  in  the 
service,  with  the  request  that  it  be  read  out  to  every  company." 

(3)  "Be  it  resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas, 
That  should  the  State  of  Texas,  from  any  cause,  withdraw  from 
her  association  as  a  member  of  the  Confederate  States  before  the 
indebtedness  of  said  Confederate  States  is  fully  paid,  the  faith 
of  the  State  is  hereby  pledged  to  the  payment  of  her  pro  rata  por- 
tion of  such  remaining  indebtedness,  to  whoever  the  same  may 
be  due. 

"A  certified  copy  of  this  resolution  to  be  transmitted  by  the 
Governor  to  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States,  and  to  the 
Governor  of  each  of  said  States." 

(4)  "Resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas,  That 
we  heartily  approve  of  the  proclamation  of  the  President  of  the 
Confederate  States,  to  retaliate  for  the  iniquities  of  General  But- 
ler (better  known  as  Butler,  the  Beast,)  in  the  State  of  Louis- 
iana; as  well  as  his  retaliation  proclamation  against  General 
McXeill  for  the  murder  of  citizens  in  the  State  of  Missouri ;  and 
we  trust  that  retaliation  will  be  strictly  and  rigidly  practiced 
by  our  government  in  all  such  cases  of  outrage,  and  we  pledge 
the  people  of  this  State  to  sustain  the  President  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  in'  all  his  measures  of  retaliation  against  those  who 


31 


482  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


outrage  humanity  by  such  an  utter  disregard  of  the  rules  of  civil- 
ized warfare." 

(5)  "Resolved,  That  the  power  to  regulate  commerce  is,  by 
the  Constitution  of  the  Confederate  States,  vested  in  Congress ; 
and  that  the  power  assumed  by  the  military  authorities  of  this 
department  to  allow,  control,  and  prohibit  the  exportation  and 
transportation  of  cotton,  is  unwarranted  in  law,  is  an  encroach- 
ment upon  the  rights  of  the  people  and  upon  the  power  of  Con- 
gress, and  is  an  exercise  of  power  which  Congress  itself  has  re- 
fused to  exercise  (by  act  approved  May  21,  1861),  and  which 
tends  to  the  impoverishment  of  one  portion  of  the  people  and  to 
the  aggrandizement  and  corruption  of  another,  and  to  expel  the 
planter  and  lawful  trader  from  the  market,  to  create  monopolies, 
and  to  cause  scarcity  of  supplies  and  consequent  high  prices. 

"That  our  senators  in  Congress  be  instructed,  and  our  repre- 
sentatives requested,  to  see  that  the  Rio  Grande  trade  is  not  un- 
lawfully closed  or  obstructed,  and  that  such  regulations  be  pre- 
scribed to  the  officers  of  customs  as  may  be  necessary  to  secure 
to  the  people  the  benefits  of  said  trade  and  a  return  of  supplies." 

(6)  "Be  it  resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas, 
That  the  thanks  of  the  Legislature  are  hereby  tendered  to  Gen. 
J.  B.  Magruder,  and  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command, 
for  the  brilliant  victory  which  they  gained  over  the  Federals  at 
Galveston  on  the  1st  of  January  last;  and  to  Maj.  0.  M.  Watkins 
and  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command  for  their  gallant 
conduct  at  Sabine  Pass,  and  the  recapture  of  that  fort  and  cap- 
turing the  blockading  vessels  of  the  enemy;  and  to  Maj.  Dan 
Shea  and  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command  for  their  firm 
defense  of  the  town  of  Lavaca;  and  to  Major  Hobby  and  the 
officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  for  the  repulse  of  the 
enemy's  attack  on  Corpus  Christi — the  commencement  of  our 
successes  on  the  Texas  coast;  and  to  Captains  Ireland  and  Ware 
and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  their  command  for  their  ex- 
ploit in  the  capture  of  Captain  Kittredge  and  his  men  near 
CorpiTs  Christi ;  and  to  Captains  Ireland  and  Wilkie  and  the  offi- 
cers and  soldiers  under  their  command  for  their  good  conduct  in 
defeating  the  enemy's  attempt  to  capture  one  of  our  vessels,  and 
in  capturing  his  barges  in  the  bay  of  Corpus  Christi;  and  to 
Capts.  Santos  Benavides  and  Refugio  Benavides  and  officers  and 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  483 


men  for  the  vigilance,  energy,  and  gallantry  displayed  by  them 
in  pursuing  and  chastising  the  banditti  infesting  the  Rio  Grande 
frontier." 

The  extra  session  adjourned  sine  die  on  the  2d  of  March. 

In  reply  to  a  letter  from  Capt.  S.  T.  Mains,  of  the  State  troops, 
detailing  the  exposed  condition  of  his  section  and  the  need  of  ad- 
ditional troops,  I  wrote  him,  under  date  of  March  12,  1863,  that 
for  lack  of  legislative  appropriations  I  was  powerless  to  afford 
help  at  that  time ;  that  I  was  then  in  correspondence  with  General 
Magruder  on  the  subject,  and  hoped  to  effect  something  for  his 
section  in  that  way;  that  I  was  forwarding  to  the  frontier  line 
all  the  available  ammunition,  and  that  it  was  my  intention  to  do 
all  in  my  power  to  secure  adequate  protection  for  the  frontier. 

On  March  27th  I  wrote  to  President  Davis,  urging  acceptance 
of  the  frontier  regiment  by  the  Confederate  government,  and 
giving  him  a  history  of  its  organization  and  objects,  and  of  my 
efforts  to  have  it  transferred  to  the  regular  service  to  save  ex- 
pense to  the  State.  I  also  informed  him  of  the  passage  by  the 
Legislature  of  an  act  removing  all  restrictions  imposed  by  a 
former  act,  with  the  only  exception  that  its  service  should  be 
continued  on  the  Indian  frontier  for  its  defense,  and  that  under 
this  supplemental  act  the  regiment  had  again  been  tendered  to 
the  general  commanding  the  military  district  of  Texas,  and  had 
been  by  him  accepted,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  President. 

In  concluding  my  letter  I  said :  "Impressed  with  a  firm  con- 
viction of  the  superiority  of  this  mode  of  defense  for  the  protec- 
tion of  our  Indian  frontier,  and  its  pre-eminent  efficiency  hav- 
ing been  recognized  by  the  people  of  that  section  and  the  Legis- 
lature at  its  several  sessions ;  in  a  spirit  the  very  reverse  of  dicta- 
tion, I  would  invoke  your  excellency  to  accept  the  service  of  this 
regiment,  and  to  that  extent  save  the  people  on  our  Indian  fron- 
tier, in  the  future,  from  the  renewal  of  the  countless  sacrifices 
which  they  have  heretofore  made,  and  the  horrible  consequences 
that  accompany  these  Indian  raids." 

The  President,  however,  denied  my  application,  refusing  to 
accept  the  regiment  if  hampered  by  any  conditions  whatever. 

The  citizens  of  Wise,  Parker,  and  Jack  counties  had  petitioned 
the  Legislature  for  additional  protection  against  Indian  depre- 
dations. 


484  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


After  adjournment  of  that  body,  I  wrote  them,  through 
Messrs.  Armstrong,  Simpson,  Benson,  and  others,  that  their  pe- 
tition had  been  duly  considered  by  the  members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, who  adjourned,  however,  without  authorizing  me  to  raise 
a  man  or  expend  a  dollar  for  the  protection  of  the  frontier,  be- 
yond the  appropriation  made  for  the  frontier  regiment ;  but  that 
General  Magruder,  at  my  urgent  request,  had  authorized  Brig- 
adier-General Hudson  to  raise  four  or  five  companies  for  fron- 
tier service,  and  had  ordered  to  the  Eed  River  line  the  mounted 
regiment  of  Colonel  Phillips;  and  further,  that  I  had  requested 
General  Magruder  to  retain  in  Cooke  County,  till  relieved  by 
other  forces,  the  four  companies  of  De  Morse's  regiment  under 
Major  Carroll,  sent  to  that  quarter  by  General  Cooper,  of  the 
Indian  department. 

I  also  expressed  the  hope  that,  with  these  additional  troops  on 
the  frontier,  adequate  protection  would  be  afforded  the  people 
in  that  section  against  all  depredations  of  Indians  and  jay- 
hawkers,  and  stated  I  felt  entirely  sure  that  the  frontier  regi- 
ment, as  then  reorganized,  was  in  a  better  condition  for  effective 
service  than  ever  before. 


LUBBOCK^S  MEMOIRS.  485 


CHAPTEE  TWENTY-SIX. 

Inspection  of  the  Fortifications  at  Galveston  —  Call  for  Ten  Thousand 
More  Troops  —  Want  of  Arms  —  Fall  of  Vicksburg  —  Proclamations 
to  Encourage  the  People — President  Davis'  Letter  to  Gen.  Kirby 
Smith  —  Death  of  General  Houston  —  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  on  the  Situ- 
ation—  Second  Conference  of  Governors  at  Marshall  —  Indian  Fron- 
tier—  Dick  Dowling's  Fight  at  Sabine  Pass. 

General  Magruder  had  been  utilizing  slave  labor  for  some 
time  in  fortifying  Galveston,  and,  somewhat  desirous  to  see  the 
extent  of  his  works,  I  set  out  from  Austin  about  the  last  of  May, 
with  Colonel  Dashiel,  A.  A.  G.,  for  the  coast. 

I  spent  several  days  quite  pleasantly  in  Houston,  where  I  also 
had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  General  Magruder  and  quite  a 
corps  of  distinguished  officers.  The  General  was  enthusiastic 
over  his  works  in  Galveston  Bay,  and  anxious  to  show  them  to 
me,  and  for  that  purpose  it  was  thought  best  to  take  the  bayou 
route.  We  proceeded  down  Buifalo  Bayou  on  the  elegant  steam- 
boat Island  City,  passing  in  broad  daylight  the  battlefield  of  San 
Jacinto,  where  the  independence  of  Texas  had  been  won.  As 
our  boat  glided  by  this  historic  and  memorable  spot,  the  thought 
was  vividly  present  in  my  mind  that  our  liberties  were  then 
more  seriously  threatened  by  our  own  kith  and  kin  than  they 
had  been  in  other  days  by  an  alien  race ;  and  when  I  glanced  at 
the  gallant  company  about  me,  there  came  to  me  the  inspiring 
reflection  that  we  had  triumphed  then  by  virtue  of  the  justice 
of  our  cause  and  the  tried  valor  of  our  people,  and  would  do  so 
again,  if  the  achievement  of  such  a  result  could  be  accomplished 
by  heroism.  The  boat  paused  in  midstream  on  coming  opposite 
the  battleground,  and  General  Magruder  and  his  military  escort 
viewed  with  absorbing  interest  the  stretch  of  ground  on  which 
the  soldiers  of  a  former  time  had  won  imperishable  renown. 
There  was  old  Lynchburg,  just  below,  with  its  gloomy  surround- 
ings, as  of  yore.  With  agreeable  company  and  fine  scenery,  the 
trip  was  pleasant  enough.  On  the  approach  of  night,  Cook's 
band  on  board  discoursed  the  sweetest  music,  and  the  company 
sang  and  danced  as  they  pleased,  and  "all  went  merry  as  a  mar- 
riage bell." 


486  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  military  men  of  our  party  were,  to  the  best  of  my  recol- 
lection, besides  General  Magruder:  Colonel  Dashiel,  Colonel  De 
Bray,  Colonel  Bankhead,  Colonel  Ives  (aide-de-camp  to  Presi- 
dent Davis),  Lieutenant  Kirby  (aide-de-camp  to  Gen.  E.  Kirby 
Smith),  Major  Pearce,  Major  Pendleton,  Maj.  Leon  Smith, 
Major  Dickinson,  Maj.  George  Magruder,  Major  Mason,  Major 
Watkins,  Captain  McGreal,  Captain  Turner,  Lieutenants  War- 
ner, Yancy,  and  several  others  of  lesser  note. 

Reaching  Galveston,  we  waited  until  the  following  morning  to 
inspect  the  fortifications.  They  were  constructed,  so  I  was  in- 
formed, under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Sulokoski,  Magruder's 
Polish  chief  of  engineers,  whom  he  had  brought  with  him  from 
Virginia. 

The  next  day,  to  better  make  an  inspection  of  the  line  of  de- 
fenses, including  the  obstructions  in  the  channel  leading  into  the 
harbor,  the  inland  fleet,  and  the  fortifications,  a  party,  consist- 
ing of  General  Magruder  and  staff,  Colonel  Dashiel,  and  myself, 
with  several  charming  ladies,  took  passage  on  one  of  the  steam- 
ers. This  outing  was  certainly  a  combination  of  business  and 
pleasure,  as  the  ride  was  delightful,  and  the  view  presented,  the 
inland  fleet,  the  city,  Pelican  Spit,  and  the  bridge,  and  an  ex- 
amination of  the  works,  were  all  interesting.  To  examine  the 
military  works  we  landed,  and  after  their  inspection  we  were 
afforded  the  pleasure  of  witnessing  an  exhibition  of  artillery 
practice  by  the  troops. 

I  was  gratified  to  learn,  in  this  connection,  that  General  Ma- 
gruder had  recovered  from  the  wreck  of  the  Yankee  steamer 
Westfield  five  cannon  of  various  calibres ;  one  being  a  nine-inch 
Dahlgren,  and  another  an  eight-inch  columbiad,  which  were 
found  on  the  sea  bottom  about  thirty  feet  away  from  the  hulk, 
with  gun-carriages  intact,  and  raised  with  grappling  hooks  and 
windlass.  After  viewing  the  defenses  of  Galveston,  pronounced 
by  competent  critics  to  be  the  most  scientific  and  formidable  in 
the  Confederacy,  I  could  but  be  pleased  with  the  outlook  for  the 
Island  City  and  Texas.  The  commanding  general  had  them  so 
well  advertised  to  the  world  that  the  Yankees  never  cared  to  put 
their  strength  to  the  test.  As  has  been  before  observed,  Magru- 
der had  a  little  bluster  in  his  composition,  which  at  times  served 
a  good  turn  in  scaring  the  enemy. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  487 


The  agreeable  experiences  of  the  day  were  fittingly  concluded 
with  a  grand  ball  at  night  at  Miss  Cobb's  schoolhouse.  It  was 
probably  given  as  a  compliment  to  General  Magruder  and 
brother  officers.  However,  I  attended  it;  but  I  imagined  I  was 
somewhat  overshadowed,  in  the  eyes  of  the  fair  ladies,  by  the 
brilliant  military  throng.  A  good  share  of  the  representative 
belles  of  both  Houston  and  Galveston  being  present,  the  evening 
was  delightfully  spent. 

In  compliance  with  General  Magruder's  requisition  on  me 
for  10,000  troops  (made  June  4th),  I  at  once  issued  a  proclama- 
tion calling  for  that  number  of  men  to  defend  the  State,  saying, 
among  other  things :  "I  invoke  you,  men  of  Texas,  by  every 
tie  of  family  and  of  country,  to  rally  to  our  standard.  Your 
Governor,  in  your  name,  has  promised  that  this  call  will  be  filled 
with  alacrity.  This  pledge  must  be  redeemed.  It  will  be." 

The  requisition  was  slowly  filled,  but  the  chief  difficulty  was 
in  procuring  arms  for  the  militia.  It  was  no  unusual  thing  to 
see  bodies  of  militia  in  different  parts  of  the  State  practically 
without  weapons  of  any  kind.  Were  ever  patriots  reduced  to 
such  desperate  straits  in  any  country  before? 

Magruder's  requisition  for  troops  was  preceded  by  a  long  let- 
ter to  me  sketching  the  situation  and  needs  of  the  State.  In  it 
he  said,  in  substance,  that  he  expected  a  more  formidable  in- 
vasion by  the  Yankees,  and  that  it  must  be  met  by  adequate  prep- 
aration; that,  on  opening  the  Mississippi,  then  probable,  their 
light-draft  gunboats  would  be  pushed  into  every  navigable  bay 
and  bayou  in  Louisiana  and  Texas ;  that  the  contiguous  territory 
would  be  laid  waste,  the  negroes  set  free,  our  men  killed  or  im- 
prisoned, and  our  women  subjected  to  every  species  of  brutality 
and  insult ;  that  cravens,  if  any  in  Texas,  could  not  hope  to  save 
their  property  by  submission  to  Yankee  tyranny,  as  had  been 
lately  demonstrated  in  Louisiana ;  that,  to  fight  successfully, 
troops  must  be  provided,  organized,  and  disciplined,  and  im- 
portant points  fortified ;  that  Texas  was  in  more  danger  of  inva- 
sion then  than  ever  before,  especially  if  the  enemy  succeeded  in 
opening  the  Mississippi,  and  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  keep 
from  their  homes,  unless  necessary,  the  10,000  militia  called  for, 
but  to  organize  them  and  prepare  them  for  service,  so  that  they 
would  be  ready  for  any  emergency. 


488  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


He  directed  my  attention  to  that  portion  of  the  impressment 
law  of  Congress  that  related  to  slaves.  He  said  the  most  pa- 
triotic slaveholders  had  furnished  more  than  their  share  of  lab- 
orers for  the  fortifications  at  Galveston,  while  the  more  selfish 
kept  their  slaves  at  home  or  reclaimed  them  (if  loaned)  on  the 
first  opportunity,  and  stated  that  1500  slaves  were  required  for 
immediate  service  on  fortifications,  and  that  if  not  forthcoming, 
the  impressment  law  (authorizing  the  taking  of  one-half  the 
male  population  over  eighteen)  would  be  rigidly  enforced,  as  the 
coast  defenses  were  absolutely  indispensable  to  the  security  of 
slave  property.  In  reference  to  my  late  visit  to  Galveston,  he 
said:  "Your  excellency,  in  company  with  myself,  has  recently 
visited  and  inspected  the  fortifications,  the  Harriet  Lane,  the  in- 
land fleet,  and  could  not  but  have  felt  the  greater  sense  of  se- 
curity, after  witnessing  the  effect  of  the  fire  of  our  guns  upon  the 
channels  of  approach,  and  after  an  examination  of  the  strongest 
and  most  skillfully  constructed  earthworks  that  are  to  be  found 
in  any  country."  And  in  conclusion:  "I  have  made  your  ex- 
cellency the  above  plain  and  frank  statement  of  facts,  that  they 
may  be  communicated  to  the  people.  ...  I  have  the  honor 
to  assure  your  excellency  that  the  patriotism,  zeal,  and  intelli- 
gence which  have  marked  your  co-operation  with  the  Confederate 
commanders  in  this  district  are  fully  appreciated  by  -them  and 
the  government,  and  have  contributed  greatly  to  the  success  of 
their  efforts  to  rescue  the  district  of  Texas  from  the  presence  of 
the  enemy  and  to  maintain  it,  to  this  moment,  free  and  independ- 
ent. For  these  great  services,  rendered  by  yourself  and  the  pa- 
triotic and  able  men  who  control  the  military  resources  of  the 
State  of  Texas,  I  beg  leave  to  tender  my  cordial  thanks  and  pub- 
lic acknowledgments." 

Vicksburg,  our  great  stronghold  on  the  Mississippi,  was  at  last 
surrendered  to  the  enemy,  its  brave  defenders  being  reduced  to 
that  extremity  as  much  by  famine  as  by  the  preponderating  num- 
ber and  exertions  of  the  enemy.  We  lost  30,000  men  by  the  fall 
of  Vicksburg,  and  the  enemy  gained  undisputed  control  of  the 
Mississippi  from  its  source  to  the  sea.  This  was  an  irreparable 
disaster,  but  the  ensuing  demoralization  among  the  soldiers  and 
people  was  worse.  I,  however,  did  not  consider  our  situation 
desperate,  and,  to  encourage  our  depressed  people  to  continue 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  489 


resistance  and  make  preparations  to  determinedly  oppose  further 
advances  of  the  exultant  Federals,  I  issued  a  cheering  proclama- 
tion, July  24th,  in  which  I  said: 

"The  fall  of  the  heroic  city  does  not  necessarily  give  the 
enemy  the  control  of  the  Mississippi,  neither  does  it  ensure  the 
invasion  of  Texas ;  nevertheless,  it  behooves  every  man  to  be  pre- 
pared and  nerved  for  any  fate  that  may  befall  him  or  his  coun- 
try. To  avert  war  from  your  doors,  make  adequate  preparations 
for  resistance. 

"The  spectacle  of  a  whole  people  in  arms  for  the  defense  of 
their  altars  and  household  gods  (boys,  manhood  in  its  prime,  and 
grey-headed  sires),  the  path  of  victory  or  death  pointed  out  by 
wives,  sisters,  and  mothers,  prepared  to  perish  rather  than  live 
the  slaves  of  slaves, — such  a  spectacle  will  cause  the  foe  to  pause 
ere  he  encounters  an  entire  people  ready  to  die,  not  to  yield. 

"Therefore  I  call  upon  you  in  the  name  of  the  departed  he- 
roes of  Texas,  and  in  the  name  of  their  widows  and  orphans ;  I 
call  upon  you  in  the  name  of  the  patriots  now  battling  for  us 
upon  distant  fields;  I  invoke  you  as  patriots,  as  lovers  of  free- 
dom, as  men  struggling  in  a  most  righteous  cause,  to  organize 
at  once  under  the  call  made  upon  you,  to  beat  back  our  insolent 
and  brutal  foe,  who,  when  he  crosses  our  frontier,  will  mark  his 
progress  with  desolation  and  ruin." 

I  also  called  attention  to  General  Magruder's  proclamation 
urging  the  organization  of  minute  companies  of  cavalry,  exhort- 
ing the  "exempts"  then  at  home  to  be  ready  to  defend  their  fire- 
sides, calling  on  the  shirkers  in  the  rear  to  come  forward  and  re- 
deem their  manhood,  and  requesting  slaveholders  to  hire  their 
slaves  to  the  government  to  serve  as  teamsters  and  other  laborers ; 
all  of  which  utterances  of  the  General  I  heartily  approved  and 
seconded. 

General  Magruder  said  in  his  proclamation  that  if  any  should 
prove  insensible  to  his  appeal,  and  his  army  should  be  left  at 
disadvantage  by  those  who  should  swell  its  ranks,  he  would  see 
to  it  that  no  such  recreants  should  be  left  between  his  lines  and 
those  of  the  enemy  to  protect  by  perjury  the  wealth  they  had 
amassed  by  grinding  extortion,  or  in  any  other  way  turn  their 
cowardice  or  baseness  to  profit.  Referring  in  my  address  to  this 
announcement,  I  said:  "And  may  those  who,  to  save  life  and 


490  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


property,  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  so  foul  and  corrupt  a 
government  as  that  of  Lincolndom,  meet  the  fate  due  to  traitors, 
and  their  names  be  consigned  to  ignominy  and  the  execrations  of 
posterity !  And  I  pledge  myself  to  assist  the  commanding  gen- 
eral in  disposing  of  all  such  miscreants,  should  any  such  be  found 
in  our  midst.  .  .  .  If  we  are  but  true  to  ourselves,  we  are 
strong  enough  west  of  the  Mississippi  ...  to  beat  the  Yan- 
kee vandals  from  our  soil." 

President  Davis,  ever  mindful  of  the  dangers  of  our  isolated 
situation  wrote  July  14th  to  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith :  "After  the 
fall  of  our  two  fortified  places  on  the  Mississippi  Eiver  (Vicks- 
burg  and  Port  Hudson)  your  department  is  placed  in  a  new  re- 
lation, and  your  difficulties  must  be  materially  enhanced.  You 
now  have  not  merely  a  military,  but  a  political,  problem  in- 
volved in  your  command.  I  have  been  warned  against  a  feeling 
which  is  said  to  exist  in  favor  of  a  separate  organization  on 
the  part  of  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Unreasonable 
men  think  they  have  been  neglected,  and  timid  men  may  hope 
that  they  can  make  better  terms  for  themselves  if  their  cause 
is  not  combined  with  that  of  the  Confederacy.  Already  I  am 
told  that  dissatisfaction  exists  in  Arkansas,  and  that  it  has 
been  assumed  that  you  intend  to  abandon  that  country,  the  basis 
of  such  supposition  being  your  concentration  of  troops  in  Louisi- 
ana. To  give  to  each  section  all  that  local  interests  may  suggest, 
will  of  course,  be  impossible;  but  much  discontent  may  be 
avoided  by  giving  such  explanations  to  the  Governors  of  the 
States  as  will  prevent  them  from  misconstruing  your  actions. 
.  .  .  Separated  from  the  Eastern  States,  as  you  now  are,  your 
department  must  needs  be,  to  a  great  extent,  self-sustaining." 
Continuing,  the  President  referred  to  our  large  resources  of 
natural  wealth  and  the  necessity  of  utilizng  them  in  the  manu- 
facture of  munitions  of  war,  shoes  and  harness,  clothing  and 
blankets,  and  other  articles,  and  in  raising  food  for  the  people 
and  army.  After  congratulating  him  on  the  victories  won  at 
Brashear  City,  Sabine  Pass,  and  elsewhere,  Mr.  Davis  concluded 
his  letter  with  the  following  words :  "We  are  now  in  the  darkest 
hour  of  our  political  existence.  I  am  happy  in  the  confidence  I 
feel  in  your  ability,  zeal,  and  discretion.  The  responsibility 
with  which  you  are  charged  is  heavy,  indeed,  and  your  means, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  491 


I  know,  are  very  inadequate.  If  my  power  were  equal  to  my  will, 
you  should  have  all  that  you  require.  It  grieves  me  to  have 
enumerated  so  many  and  such  difficult  objects  for  your  atten- 
tion, when  I  can  give  you  so  little  aid  in  their  achievement.  May 
God  guide  and  preserve  you,  and  grant  to  us  a  future  in  which 
we  may  congratulate  each  other  on  the  achievement  of  the  inde- 
pendence of  our  country." 

Amid  the  clash  of  arms  in  civil  strife,  the  spirit  of  Sam 
Houston  was  borne  from  the  scenes  of  earth.  He  died  at  Hunts- 
ville  on  the  23d  of  July,  1863,  with  his  family  and  a  few  par- 
ticular friends  around  him.  His  health  had  been  failing  for 
several  months,  and  death  did  not  find  him  unprepared.  His  last 
will76  is  a  curiosity  of  its  kind,  and  is  well  worth  reading. 

76  "In  the  name  of  God,  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  I,  Sam 
Houston,  of  the  county  of  Walker  and  State  of  Texas,  being  fully  aware 
of  the  uncertainty  of  life  and  the  certainty  of  death,  do  ordain  and  de- 
clare this  my  last  will  and  testament. 

"  First.  I  will  that  all  my  just  debts  be  paid  out  of  my  personal  ef- 
fects, which  I  think  sufficient  without  disposing  of  the  family  servants. 

"Second.  I  bequeath  my  entire  remaining  estate  to  my  beloved 
wife,  Margaret,  and  our  children,  and  I  desire  that  they  may  remain 
with  her  so  long  as  she  remains  in  widowhood;  and  should  she  at  any 
time  marry  I  desire  that  my  daughters  should  remain  subject  to  her 
control  so  long  as  their  minority  lasts. 

"  Third.  My  will  is  that  my  sons  should  receive  solid  and  useful  ed- 
ucations, and  that  no  portion  of  their  time  may  be  devoted  to  the  study 
of  abstract  science.  I  greatly  desire  that  they  may  possess  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  English  language,  with  a  good  knowledge  of  the  Latin 
language.  I  request  that  they  be  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  and  next  to  these  that  they  be  rendered  thorough  in  a 
knowledge  of  geography  and  history.  I  wish  my  sons  early  taught  an 
entire  contempt  for  novels  and  light  reading,  as  well  as  to  the  character 
and  morals  of  those  with  whom  they  may  be  associated  or  instructed. 

"Fourth.  I  leave  my  wife  as  executrix,  and  the  following  named 
gentlemen  as  my  executors:  Thomas  Carothers,  J.  Carroll  Smith, 
Thomas  Gibbs,  and  Anthony  M.  Branch,  my  beloved  friends,  in  whom  I 
place  entire  confidence,  to  make  such  disposition  of  my  real  estate  as 
may  seem  to  them  best  for  the  necessities  and  interests  and  welfare  of 
my  family.  To  my  dearly  beloved  wife  I  confide  the  rearing,  education, 
and  training  of  our  sons  and  daughters. 

"Fifth.  To  my  eldest  son,  Sam  Houston,  I  bequeath  my  sword, 
worn  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  to  be  drawn  only  in  defense  of  the 
Constitution,  and  laws,  and  liberties  of  his  country.  If  any  attempt  be 
made  to  assail  one  of  these,  I  wish  it  to  be  used  in  its  vindication.  It  is 


493  LUBBOC1CS  MEMOIRS. 


Information  of  Houston's  death  was  received  over  the  State 
with  feelings  of  profound  sorrow ;  but  the  pressing  duties  arising 
from  the  war  almost  entirely  engrossed  public  attention  at  the 
time,  and  it  was  not  until  a  subsequent  period  that  the  Legisla- 
ture expressed,  by  suitable  resolutions,  the  public  sentiment  on 
the  passing  away  of  the  hero  of  San  Jacinto, — a  man  whose  few 
defects  of  character  (which  he  possessed  in  common  with  all 
mankind)  but  served  to  accentuate  his  great  virtues  and  abilities. 

In  September,  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith,  in  a  letter  to  President 
Davis,  deplored  the  inability  of  his  small  army,  destitute  of  sup- 
plies, to  cope  with  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy  being 
hurled  against  it,  well  supplied  with  military  equipments. 

"The  arms  intended  for  us,"  said  he,  "were  lost  at  Vicksburg. 
.  .  .  The  United  States  blockading  fleet  have  effectually  pre- 
vented the  arrival  of  other  arms  confidently  expected.  I  do  not 
make  these  statements  in  a  fault-finding  spirit,  but  they  are  facts 
which  present  the  almost  hopeless  condition  of  our  affairs  in  this 
department.  .  .  .  The  people  and  the  State  troops,  which 
are  called  out,  know  they  can  not  be  armed.  Despondent  and 
disheartened,  they  have  but  little  hope  of  the  result.  The  whole 
male  population,  the  aged  and  the  infirm,  have  been  called  upon 
to  organize  under  the  acts  for  local  defense.  Sixty  thousand 
rifles  could,  I  believe,  this  moment  be  well  disposed  of  through- 
out this  department." 

my  will  that  my  library  should  be  left  at  the  disposition  of  my  dear 
wife. 

"  Sixth.  To  my  dearly  beloved  wife  I  bequeath  my  watch  and  all 
my  jewelry,  subject  to  her  disposition. 

"Seventh.  I  hereby  appoint  my  beloved  wife,  Margaret,  testament- 
ary guardian  of  our  children,  their  persons  and  estates  during  minority. 
But  should  a  wise  Providence,  through  its  inscrutable  decrees,  see  fit  to 
deprive  our  offspring  of  both  parents,  and  make  them  orphans  indeed, 
it  is  hereby  delegated  to  my  executors,  J.  Carroll  Smith,  Thomas  Ca- 
rothers,  Thomas  Gibbs,  and  Anthony  M.  Branch,  to  make  such  disposi- 
tion in  regard  to  their  welfare  as  they  may  think  best  calculated  to 
carry  out  designs  as  expressed  in  this  my  last  will  and  testament. 

"  Eighth.  And  I  direct  and  enjoin  my  executors,  that  after  the  pro- 
bate and  registry  of  this,  my  last  will,  and  return  of  inventory  of  my 
estate,  the  county  or  court  of  probate  have  no  further  control  of  my  ex- 
ecutors or  testamentary  guardian  of  my  estate. 

"Done  at  Huntsville,  April  2.  1803. 

"SAM  HOUSTON." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  493 


Of  course  this  despairing  letter  was  not  made  public  at  the 
time.  General  Smith  enclosed  with  his  letter  to  President  Davis 
a  communication  to  Mr.  Slidell,  our  representative  in  Paris,  urg- 
ing upon  him  the  importance  of  immediate  interposition  by 
France  in  behalf  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  fall  of  Vicksburg  split  the  Confederacy  into  two  parts, 
neither  of  which  thereafter  had  the  power  of  rendering  aid  to  the 
other.  Communication  with  the  Richmond  government  was  im- 
mediately interrupted.  It  was  realized  that  unless  this  was  re- 
stored the  results  would  be  worse  than  those  following  the  loss 
of  Pemberton's  army,  or  the  repulse  of  Lee  at  Gettysburg.  In 
recognition  of  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith 
called-  another  conference  of  the  Governors  of  the  States  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  the  meeting  to  take  place  at  Marshall,  August  15, 
1863. 

The  conference  assembled  at  the  time  and  place  appointed, 
with  the  following  in  attendance : 

From  Texas,  Hon.  W.  S.  Oldham,  Confederate  States  sena- 
tor; Pendleton  Murrah  (Governor-elect),  Maj.  Guy  M.  Bryan, 
and  myself ;  from  Louisiana,  Gov.  Thos.  0.  Moore,  Colonel  Man- 
ning, Chief  Justice  Merrick,  Associate  Justice  Voorhies;  from 
Arkansas,  Robt.  M.  Johnson,  Confederate  States  senator  and  rep- 
resentative of  Governor  Flanagan;  C.  B.  Mitchell,  Confederate 
States  senator,  and  W.  K.  Patterson ;  from  Missouri,  Gov.  Thos. 
C.  Reynolds,  and  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith. 

General  Smith  submitted  the  following  questions  for  consid- 
eration : 

"First.  The  condition  of  the  States  since  the  fall  of  Vicks- 
burg, the  temper  of  the  people,  the  resources  and  ability  of  each 
State  to  contribute  to  the  cause  and  defense  of  the  department, 
and  the  best  means  for  bringing  into  use  the  whole  population 
for  the  protection  of  their  homes. 

"Second.  The  best  measures  for  restoring  confidence  and 
checking  the  spread  of  disloyality,  and  keeping  the  people  stead- 
fast in  the  hope  of  ultimate  triumph  of  our  army. 

"Third.  The  questions  of  currency,  and  the  best  method  of 
securing  the  cotton  of  the  department  without  causing  opposi- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  people,  and  best  method  of  disposing  of 
the  same. 


494  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"Fourth.  The  extent  of  the  civil  authority  to  be  exercised,  re- 
ferred to  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War  in  their  letters 
to  the  lieutenant-general  commanding. 

"Fifth.  Appointment  of  commissioners  to  confer  with  the 
French  and  Mexican  authorities  in  Mexico. 

"Sixth.     Arms  and  ordnance  stores.'' 

Two  days  later,  on  August  17th,  I  was  elected  to  the  chair, 
and  W.  K.  Patterson  secretary. 

On  motion,  I  appointed  the  following  committees : 

No.  1,  Governor  Eeynolds,  Voorhies,  Johnston,  Bryan,  Old- 
ham,  and  Patterson;  No.  2,  Oldham,  Merrick,  Mitchell,  Reyn- 
olds, and  Lubbock;  No.  3,  Johnson,  Moore,  Murrah,  Reynolds, 
Manning,  and  Merrick;  to  which  the  various  propositions  were 
assigned,  to  be  by  them  considered  and  reported  on. 

Judge  Merrick,  for  committee  No.  2,  reported  that  in  the 
opinion  of  the  committee  it  was  intended  that  such  powers  only 
should  be  exercised  by  General  Smith  as  were  then  exercised  by 
military  officers  at  Richmond,  and  which  it  was  absolutely  nec- 
essary, on  account  of  inability  to  communicate  with  Richmond, 
that  the  general  should  assume  in  order  to  augment  and  main- 
tain his  army  and  put  the  department  in  the  best  state  of  de- 
fense. 

The  objects  to  which  such  powers  were  to  extend  were  enumer- 
ated generally  in  the  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War. 

"Of  course,"  said  the  committee  report,  "when  the  Secretary 
of  War  advises  the  general  in  command  of  the  department  to  as- 
sume powers  not  granted  by  an  act  of  Congress  to  any  general 
in  the  army,  and  only  exercised  by  other  departments  of  the  gov- 
ernment, he  expects  that  such  powers  (which  are  only  powers  of 
administration)  should  be  exercised  according  to  existing  laws, 
and  that  nothing  shall  be  changed  except  the  agents  by  which 
the  operations  of  the  government  in  respect  to  this  department 
are  carried  on. 

"The  respective  States  composing  the  department  have  or- 
ganized governments,  and  it  could  not  have  been  the  intention  of 
the  Secretary  of  War  to  advise  the  commanding  general  to  as- 
sume civil  authority  which  belongs  to  the  States,  they  still  hav- 
ing officers  present  ready  to  perform  their  respective  duties  and 
functions." 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  495 


Col.  Pendleton  Murrah,  from  the  same  committee,  made 
the  following  report : 

"The  undersigned,  a  sub-committee  to  whom  was  referred  this 
question,  respectfully  submit  that  the  dependence  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  Department  upon  the  ports  of  Mexico  for  supplies 
and  for  communication  abroad,  together  with  the  relationship 
of  the  French  and  Mexican  governments  at  the  present  time, 
make  an  understanding  with  the  authorities  by  those  govern- 
ments highly  important,  if  not  absolutely  essential.  The  disposi- 
tion of  those  powers  and  their  officials  can  only  be  ascertained  by 
correspondence  with  them.  The  correspondence  under  the  ex- 
isting state  of  things,  even  as  to  civil  matters,  can  not,  perhaps, 
be  conducted  directly  through  the  government,  and  as  the  cor- 
respondence, to  have  reference  nearly  directly  to  the  interest  of 
the  department  and  its  immediate  wants,  the  law,  whenever  the 
law  speaks,  and  propriety  when  the  law  is  silent,  points  out  the 
military  commander  of  the  department  as  the  proper  official  to 
institute  and  conduct  the  correspondence.  As  to  the  mode  of 
carrying  on  the  correspondence,  it  is  of  course  to  be  left  to  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  commander ;  and  yet  it  is  not  deemed  improper  to 
suggest  that  the  importance  of  the  subject  authorizes,  if  it  does 
not  require,  an  agent,  intelligent,  well  informed,  of  known  char- 
acter, one  adapted  to  inspire  confidence  in  his  knowledge  and 
discretion,  and  not  likely  to  be  misled  in  these  times  of  trial  and 
uncertainty  by  mere  plausibilities  of  instructions  intended  to 
please  and  flatter,  without  promising  or  guaranteeing  anything 
of  benefit.  The  selection  of  such  an  agent  and  the  prosecution 
of  such  line  of  policy  would  find  its  justification  in  facts  which 
have  already  transpired  in  the  conduct  of  French  officials.  These 
facts,  forming  a  basis  of  inquiry  and  authorizing  an  approach  to 
them  officially  for  that  purpose,  would  enable  the  agent  or  com- 
missioner to  sound,  upon  Mexican  soil,  both  French  and  Mexican 
authorities,  ascertain  their  disposition  towards  our  government 
and  people,  and  what  we  may  expect  of  them  in  the  way  of  favor 
or  assistance ;  what  credit  may  be  founded  upon  the  various  pro- 
ductions, etc.,  in  our  own  territory.  Whilst  the  agent  might  not 
be  dignified  by  any  definite  title  or  grade  which  proclaims  his 
authority  and  its  extent,  he  might  at  least  be  authorized  to  make 
explanations,  give  assurances,  and  come  to  an  understanding 


4%  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


founded  upon  consummations  of  especial  interest,  pointing  di- 
rectly to  the  wants  of  this  district  and  embracing  the  specific 
matters  pertaining  to  the  general  questions  of  credit  and  sup- 
plies from  abroad. 

"It  is  believed  that  our  situation  is  such  that  these  inquiries 
can  not  be  pushed  forward  with  too  much  industry  and  discre- 
tion; for  if  it  be  that  the  French  government  is  favorably  dis- 
posed towards  our  country,  such  control  has  it  over  the  country 
and  ports  of  Mexico,  that  its  will  is  likely  to  be  law,  and  impor- 
tant results  may  be  anticipated  from  securing  its  good  will.  The 
condition  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  her  wants,  what 
is  believed  and  ascertained  of  the  disposition  of  the  present  au- 
thorities, it  is  believed  fully  authorizes  the  commanding  general, 
etc.  He  can  not  be  instructed  from  Kichmond  as  to  civil  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  the  agency,  questions  of  mere  irregularity,  or 
even  of  doubtful  authority.  In  conducting  the  correspondence, 
both  the  interest  of  the  country  and  the  necessities  under  which 
it  labors  will  be  the  law  to  guide  his  discretion." 

Gov.  Thomas  C.  Reynolds,  from  committee  No.  1,  made  the 
following  report : 

"The  undersigned,  to  whom  was  referred  the  condition  of  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Department  since  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  has 
had  the  same  under  consideration  and  beg  leave  to  submit  the 
following  report: 

"Since  the  commencement  of  the  war  this  department  has 
labored  under  peculiar  difficulties  of  a  very  embarrassing  char- 
acter ;  it  has  received  but  a  meager  share  of  the  limited  supplies 
of  arms  and  munitions  of  war  under  the  control  of  the  gov- 
ernment. Waiving  all  inquiry  at  present  as  to  the  causes  which 
prevented  adequate  supplies  from  being  sent  west  of  the  river, 
it  is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  supply  of  arms,  munitions,  etc.,  in 
this  department  has  never  been  equal  to  the  imperative  demands 
of  the  army.  This  was  true  before  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  and 
Port  Hudson.  Now,  since  the  enemy  have  entire  control  of  the 
Missisippi  River,  and  have  the  gulf  coast  effectually  blockaded, 
and  the  State  of  Missouri  overrun  and  governed  by  military 
power,  we  are  completely  separated  from  our  confederates  east  of 
the  river,  and  must  abandon  all  hope  of  even  the  imperfect  and 
irregular  supply  heretofore  received  from  the  government,  and 
at  once  and  entirely  rely  upon  our  own  resources. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  497 


"Beleaguered  as  we  are,  the  general  in  command  can  neither 
transmit  reports  nor  receive  communications  regularly  from  the 
seat  of  government.  Hence  the  safety  of  the  people  (the  supreme 
law)  requires  that  he  assume  at  once  and  exercise  the  power  and 
prerogatives  of  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States  and  his 
subordinates  in  reference  to  all  matters  involving  the  interests 
of  his  department.  Our  necessities  demand  this  policy  and  will 
not  brook  delay,  and  it  is  believed  that  all  the  exigencies  of  the 
country  may  -be  met  without  violating  the  Constitution  and  laws 
of  the  Confederate  States,  and  without  assuming  anything  like 
dictatorial  powers. 

"As  to  the  temper  of  the  people,  we  are  compelled  to  report 
some  disaffection  and  disloyalty  in  each  of  the  several  States 
of  this  department,  and  considerable  gloom  and  despondency, 
the  result  of  the  loss  of  Vicksburg  and  other  disasters,  but  the 
great  mass  of  the  people  are  loyal  to  the  government  of  their 
choice  and  have  full  and  unreserved  confidence  in  the  ability 
and  integrity  of  the  lieutenant-general  commanding  this  de- 
partment, and  we  think  it  safe  to  say  that  they  have  maturely 
and  considerately  determined  that  no  greater  calamity  can  befall 
them  than  subjugation  or  submission  to  the  Federal  government. 
Eeference  in  general  terms  only  is  here  made  to  the  resources  of 
the  States,  because  your  committee  have  not  the  requisite  infor- 
mation to  enable  them  to  give  special  details.  Nor  do  they  deem 
it  important,  as  the  general  can,  through  his  subordinate  officers, 
obtain  more  copious,  accurate  statistics  than  we  can  possibly  give 
in  this  report. 

"It  is  thought  that  Texas  can  and  will  put  into  the  field  from 
15,000  to  20,000  men,  including  the  stragglers,  teamsters,  etc. 
She  has  grain,  bacon,  and  beef  to  feed  her  people  and  the  army 
two  years;  four  gun  factories  making  800  guns  per  month; 
metal,  copper,  and  tin  to  make  100  cannon,  and  gun  carriages 
for  a  like  number  complete  and  in  process  of  construction.  She 
is  making  percussion  caps  successfully,  has  two  powder  mills 
doing  good  work,  and  on  hand  30,703  pounds  of  common  powder, 
25,635  pounds  lead,  90,000  fixed  ammunition,  and  234  pounds 
of  buckshot.  She  has  in  the  field  now  one  regiment  State  troops 
for  frontier  protection,  well  supplied  with  ammunition.  She  has 
distributed  a  limited  supply  of  powder,  lead,  and  caps  to  some 
32 


498  LUBBOCK^S  MEMOIRS. 


counties.  She  has  furnished  great  numbers  of  cotton  cards  to 
her  people,  and  she  is  now  manufacturing  them,  and  she  has  on 
hand  material  to  keep  in  good  repair  the  machinery  of  the  peni- 
tentiary. 

"Arkansas  can  furnish  8000  to  10,000  men,  and  has  immense 
quantities  of  provisions  and  forage ;  her  shops  and  factories  are 
all  in  the  hands  of  the  government,  and  the  general  has  all  need- 
ful information  in  reference  to  them. 

"Louisiana  can  provide  5000  or  6000  men,  and  has  an  excess 
of  corn,  sugar,  and  molasses. 

"As  to  the  manufacture  of  clothing  and  the  mineral  resources, 
we  refer  the  general  to  his  clothing  and  mineral  bureau  and  his 
ordnance  department,  as  more  reliable  sources  of  information 
than  any  in  our  power. 

"Missouri  can  furnish  15,000  to  30,000  men  now  in  States  in 
our  possession,  and  large  numbers  are  daily  accruing.  Missouri 
at  present  is  valuable  chiefly  as  recruiting  ground  for  the  Con- 
federate army.  It  is  thought  by  the  Governor  of  Missouri  that 
a  good  system  of  recruiting  in  Missouri  would  add  a  regiment 
a  month  from  that  State,  and  it  is  also  thought  that  an  advance 
in  force  in  Missouri  would  add  from  20,000  to  50,000  Missouri- 
ans  to  our  army. 

"As  to  the  means  of  bringing  into  use  the  whole  population 
for  the  protection  of  their  homes,  we  urge  the  execution  of  the 
conscript  laws,  with  the  privilege  of  volunteering ;  the  calling  out 
of  the  militia  by  the  several  Governors ;  the  enrollment  of  volun- 
teers for  same  term  of  service  as  State  troops,  or  for  the  war,  in 
districts  where  the  conscript  law  can  not  be  enforced  by  reason 
of  actual  or  threatened  invasion ;  and  we  urge,  by  every  consid- 
eration, the  impressment  of  negroes  to  drive  all  the  teams  in  gov- 
ernment service,  thereby  turning  loose  an  army  of  teamsters  who 
are  good  fighting  men.  We  ask  to  be  discharged  from  the  fur- 
ther consideration  of  the  means  for  increasing  the  loyalty,  re- 
storing confidence,  and  keeping  the  people  steadfast,  etc.,  and 
that  the  proposition  may  be  considered  by  the  entire  conference." 

The  foregoing  reports  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Hon.  W.  S.  Oldham,  of  committee  No.  2,  made  the  following 
report: 

"The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  following  subjects, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  499 


submitted  by  Lieutenant-General  Smith  to  us,  the  question  of 
currency  and  the  best  mode  of  securing  the  cotton  of  the  depart- 
ment without  causing  opposition  on  the  part  of  the  people,  sub- 
mit the  following  report : 

"That  in  view  of  the  difficulties  resulting  from  the  occupation 
of  the  Mississippi  Eiver  by  the  enemy,  the  cotton  of  this  depart- 
ment is  the  only  safe  and  reliable  means  for  carrying  on  efficient 
military  operations  for  the  defense  of  the  country  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  authority  of  the  general  in  command  under 
the  circumstances  to  use  the  cotton  as  a  means  of  purchasing  and 
accumulating  military  supplies  can  not  be  doubtful  under  the 
provisions  of  the  act  of  Congress  usually  denominated  the  im- 
pressment act.  As  it  will  be  impossible  to  obtain  Confederate 
treasury  notes  to  pay  for  the  cotton  to  the  amount  that  will  be 
necessary,  and  as  such  an  additional  amount  thrown  into  the 
circulation  largely  accruing,  our  already  redundant  circulation 
would  lead  to  the  still  greater  depreciation  of  Confederate  notes 
as  a  currency,  we  make  the  following  suggestions  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  commanding  general:  That  certificates  be 
executed  to  deliver  to  the  owners  of  the  cotton  purchased,  pledg- 
ing the  government  for  the  payment  of  the  price  agreed  upon 
in  6  per  cent  coupon  bonds,  the  interest  to  be  paid  semi-annually 
from  the  date  of  the  certificate  in  specie,  and  with  the  additional 
pledge  that  a  sufficient  amount  of  the  proceeds  of  sale  of  the  cot- 
ton shall  be  inviolably  set  apart  for  the  payment  of  the  interest 
coupons  for  at  least  the  two  first  years,  and  that  the  government 
will  provide  for  the  prompt  and  certain  payment  of  future  ac- 
cumulating interest.  We  believe  the  planters  would  prefer  such 
a  payment  than  to  payment  in  treasury  notes ;  that  such  certifi- 
cates would  not  swell  the  volume  of  circulation  now  afloat; 
and  that  the  value  would  be  estimated  much  higher  than  treas- 
ury notes  and  would  have  a  credit  that  would  make  them  much 
more  available  as  a  means  for  obtaining  whatever  the  holder 
might  wish  to  purchase  at  home  or  abroad  than  any  other  form 
of  security  the  government  could  issue. 

"Taking  possession  of  the  entire  amount  of  cotton,  with  such 
exceptions  and  modifications  as  the  commanding  general  may 
deem  necessary  to  meet  particular  wants  or  necessities  of  the 
people,  would  take  the  trade  in  cotton  out  of  the  hands  of  specu- 


500  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


lators  now  engaged  in  it,  prevent  the  further  depreciation  of 
Confederate  notes,  by  preventing  an  amount  equal  to  the  value 
of  the  entire  cotton  crop  being  accumulated  in  the  locality  of  this 
department,  in  which  a  superabundance  now  already  exists,  and 
prevent  a  further  demoralization  of  public  sentiment  by  the  greed 
of  gain  and  avaricious  desire  with  which  it  is  already  infected. 

"Upon  the  subject  of  discharging  the  necessary  military  ob- 
ligations incurred,  we  venture  to  suggest  that  in  case  money 
can  not  be  obtained  from  Eichmond  for  that  purpose,  the  com- 
manding general,  in  the  execution  of  the  special  powers  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  the  President,  could  cause  the  Confederate 
notes  not  bearing  interest,  which  have  been  funded  with  the 
various  depositories  within  the  department,  to  be  reissued  and 
paid  out  by  the  proper  officers  in  discharge  of  the  debts  for 
military  purposes,  as  well  as  pay  due  the  soldiers.  Although 
the  pledge  would  not  be  binding  upon  the  government,  we 
have  no  doubt  if  such  notes  are  reissued  with  the  pledge  of  the 
privilege  of  being  refunded  in  bonds  of  the  same  rate  of  inter- 
est as  new  issue,  the  government  under  the  circumstances  would 
not  hesitate  to  ratify  and  redeem  the  pledge." 

The  question  being  upon  the  adoption  of  the  foregoing  report, 
the  conference  unanimously  adopted  all  that  part  of  the  report 
which  relates  to  the  buying  and  impressment  of  cotton  and  the 
reissuing  of  treasury  notes  in  the  hands  of  depositories,  but  re- 
fused, by  a  tie  vote,  to  adopt  that  part  of  said  report  recommend- 
ing the  issuance  of  specie  certificates  in  the  purchase  of  cotton. 

Governor  Keynolds,  of  Missouri,  offered  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted: 

"Resolved,  that  to  harmonize  and  infuse  vigor  into  the  pa- 
triotic efforts  of  the  people,  diffuse  correct  information,  and  dis- 
courage disloyalty,  an  organization  should  be  instituted  as  fol- 
lows: The  Governors  for  the  time  being  of  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Department  should  unofficially  compose  a  committee  of 
public  safety,  with  a  chairman  to  call  it  together  when  necessary 
and  act  as  its  agent,  and  should  provide  for  committees  of  cor- 
respondence in  each  county  and  parish  to  correspond  with  the 
Governor  of  their  State  and  with  the  committee.  The  people  of 
each  county  and  parish  should  form  a  voluntary  Confederate 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  501 


association  to  co-operate  with  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department 
committee  of  public  safety  and  the  corresponding  committees." 

Thos.  C.  Reynolds,  Governor  of  Missouri,  was  appointed  chair- 
man of  said  committee. 

D.  C.  Mitchell  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted: 

"Resolved,  that  from  our  intercourse  with  Lieut.-Gen.  E. 
Kirby  Smith,  and  after  hearing  his  general  plan,  we  have  the 
most  implicit  confidence  in  his  regard  for  law,  his  military  skill 
and  ability,  his  devotion  to  Southern  rights,  and  his  purity  and 
integrity  as  a  man,  and  that  we  believe  the  united  and  vigorous 
support  of  our  people  will,  under  his  leadership,  insure  a  final 
complete  success." 

Chief  Justice  Merrick  of  Louisiana,  Senator  Johnson  of  Ar- 
kansas, and  Senator  Oldham  of  Texas  were  appointed  to  present 
the  above  resolution  to  General  Smith. 

Whereupon  the  conference  adjourned. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  address  issued  by  us  to  the 
people  of  Texas,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Missouri,  and  the  allied 
Indian  Nations,  cover  its  most  interesting  features: 

"We  will  not  attempt  to  disguise  the  change  in  our  position 
by  the  fall  of  our  strongholds  on  the  Mississippi  River.  Inter- 
rupting communication  between  the  two  sections  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, it  throws  each  mainly  on  its  own  resources.  But  the  ap- 
prehensions of  evil  from  this  interruption  have  been  greatly 
exaggerated.  The  warning  given  by  the  fall  of  New  Orleans 
has  not  been  unheeded,  and  the  interval  since  that  event  has 
been  used  to  develop  the  great  resources  of  this  department.  We 
are  now  self-dependent ;  but  also  self-sustaining.  With  our  own 
manufactories  of  cannon,  arms,  powder,  and  other  munitions  of 
war;  with  mines  opened  and  factories  established;  with  cotton 
for  a  basis  of  financial  measures,  and  with  an  abundance  of  food, 
we  are  able  to  conduct  a  vigorous  defense  and  seize  occasions  for 
offensive  operations  against  the  enemy.  The  immense  extent 
of  our  territory,  the  uncertainty  of  navigation  on  our  rivers,  the 
unwholesomeness  of  the  regions  through  which  our  interior  is 
approached,  the  difficulties  of  transportation  on  our  roads,  pre- 
sent immense  obstacles  to  the  advance  of  large  armies  of  the 
enemy  with  their  cumbrous  train  of  luxurious  supplies.  Small 


502  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


bodies  will  ignominiously  fail  in  the  attempt  at  our  subjugation. 
To  crush  even  his  largest  armies  we  rely  on  the  energy  and  skill 
of  our  military  commanders,  the  zeal  and  activity  of  our  civil 
authorities,  the  discipline  and  courage  of  our  armies,  and  the 
vigorous,  self-sacrificing  patriotism  of  our  whole  people.  There 
is  everything  to  incite  us  to  renewed  efforts;  nothing  to  justify 
despondency.  .  .  . 

"The  capitalist  must  be  liberal  of  his  means;  the  speculator 
forego  his  gains;  the  straggler  hasten  to  his  regiment;  every 
able-bodied  man  hold  himself  in  readiness  for  military  service. 
Our  women,  the  glory  of  our  race,  tend  the  loom  and  even  fol- 
low the  plow;  our  boys  guard  the  homes  their  fathers  are  de- 
fending on  the  frontier ;  and  western  skill  and  valor  will  prepare 
a  San  Jacinto  defeat  for  every  invading  army  that  pollutes  the 
soil  of  this  department.  Unsurpassed  in  courage,  intelligence, 
and  energy,  you  have  only  to  arise  in  your  might  and  the  enemy 
will  speedily  be  driven  back.  Be  true  to  yourselves,  to  your  past 
history,  to  your  hope  for  the  future,  and  a  baffled  foe  will  gladly 
seek-  the  peace  which  we  war  to  obtain. 

"The  enemy  may  dismiss  all  hopes  that  the  western  section  of 
the  Confederacy  will  seek  any  destiny  separate  from  that  of  our 
sisters  east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Attached  to  the  Confed- 
eracy by  community  of  race,  institutions,  and  interest ;  baptized 
in  the  blood  we  and  they  have  poured  out  together,  we  desire 
no  new  political  connection.  Let  our  eastern  confederates  do 
their  full  duty;  these  States  and  their  Indian  allies  will  do 
theirs.  And  when  our  joint  efforts  have  secured  our  common 
safety,  the  remembrance  of  the  danger  from  a  temporary  cessa- 
tion of  intercourse  will  only  strengthen  the  ties  that  bind  us  to- 
gether. .  .  . 

"On  God's  help  and  our  own  right  arms  we  steadfastly  rely, 
counting  on  aid  neither  from  the  policy  of  neutral  nations  nor 
from  the  distraction  in  the  midst  of  our  enemies."78 

T8In  my  last  message  to  the  Legislature,  Novembers,  1863,  I  said: 
"On  the  15th  of  August  last  I  met,  by  invitation  of  Lieut.  Gen. 
E.  Kirby  Smith,  commanding  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  that 
gentleman  and  the  Governors  of  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
together  with  several  Confederate  States  Senators,  Supreme  Court 
judges,  and  other  prominent  citizens  of  these  States,  at  Marshall,  Texas, 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  503 


On  my  return  to  the  capital  after  the  conference,  I  wrote  to 
General  Smith,  calling  his  attention  to  our  Indian  frontier,  and 
asking  him  to  send  a  few  more  soldiers  to  our  aid,  who,  while 
repelling  the  Indians,  might  also  rid  that  section  of  many  de- 
serters from  the  army  who  infested  it.  I  further  suggested  that 
he  detach  for  service  on  our  frontier  Colonel  Baylor's  regiment 
(then  in  Louisiana),  on  account  of  their  extensive  experience 
in  Indian  warfare.  I  urged  upon  him  the  policy  of  allowing 
deserters  to  return  to  their  colors  in  any  regiment  or  command, 
without  regard  to  where  they  belonged,  which  I  thought  could 
be  done  under  a  liberal  interpretaiton  of  the  President's  declared 
policy  towards  deserters.  I  said  in  conclusion :  "My  anxiety 
to  see  the  frontier  people  protected  and  the  army  if  possible  in- 
creased, must  be  my  apology  for  troubling  you  on  these  subjects." 

Instead  of  General  Baylor,  as  I  requested,  Gen.  Henry  McCul- 
loch  and  his  command  were  assigned  to  duty  on  our  northern 
border,  in  charge  of  the  Indian  country.  General  McCul- 
loch  was  a  gallant  fighter  and  frontiersman  of  large  experience, 
and  I  wrote  him  a  letter  of  congratulation,  expressing  at  the 
same  time  my  regret  that  the  Indians  were  then  committing  so 
many  depredations  on  the  frontier,  and  also  my  fears  that  the 
effect  on  the  soldiers  whose  families  resided  in  the  exposed  coun- 
ties would  be  bad  indeed. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1863,  there  occurred  at  Fort  Grif- 
fin, commanding  Sabine  Pass,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  en- 
gagements of  the  war,  resulting  in  a  victory  for  the  Confederate 
arms  that  immortalized  those  who  participated  in  it.  It  is  best 
described  in  the  language  of  First  Lieut.  E.  W.  Cowling,  who, 
with  Company  F,  Cook's  artillery,  manned  the  works,  and  who 
was  the  recognized  hero  of  the  affair : 

"On  Monday  morning  about  2  o'clock,"  says  Lieutenant  Dow- 
ling  in  his  official  report,  "the  sentinel  informed  me  the  enemy 
were  signaling,  and,  fearing  an  attack,  I  ordered  all  the  guns 
at  the  fort  manned,  and  remained  in  that  position  until  daylight, 

to  confer  upon  the  condition  of  the  country  west  of  the  river,  and  place 
the  General  in  possession  of  the  resources  of  those  States.  The  confer- 
ence proved  highly  satisfactory  to  those  present,  developing  evidences 
of  strength  and  ability  to  sustain  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi 
beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations." 


504  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


at  which  time  there  were  two  steamers  evidently  sounding  for 
the  channel  on  the  bar,  and  a  large  frigate  outside.  They  re- 
mained all  day  at  work,  but  during  the  evening  were  reinforced 
to  the  number  of  twenty-two  vessels  of  different  classes. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  8th  the  United  States  gunboat  Clifton 
anchored  opposite  the  lighthouse  and  fired  twenty-six  shells  at 
the  fort,  most  of  which  passed  a  little  over  or  fell  short ;  all,  how- 
ever, in  excellent  range,  one  shell  being  landed  on  the  works  and 
another  striking  the  south  angle  of  the  fort,  without  doing  any 
material  damage.  The  firing  commenced  at  6  :30  o'clock,  and 
finished  at  7 :30  o'clock  by  the  gunboat  hauling  off.  During 
this  time  we  had  not  replied  by  a  single  shot.  All  was  then  quiet 
until  11  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  gunboat  Uncle  Ben  steamed 
down  near  the  fort.  The  United  States  gunboat  Sachem  opened 
on  her  with  a  thirty-pounder  Parrott  gun.  She  fired  three  shots, 
but  without  effect,  the  shots  all  passing  over  the  fort  and  missing 
the  Ben.  The  whole  fleet  then  drew  off,  and  remained  out  of 
range  until  3  :40  o'clock,  when  the  Sachem  and  Arizona  steamed 
into  line  up  the  Louisiana  channel,  the  Clifton  and  one  boat, 
name  unknown,  remaining  at  the  junction  of  the  two  channels. 
I  allowed  the  two  former  boats  to  approach  within  1200  yards, 
when  I  opened  fire  with  the  whole  of  my  battery  on  the  fore- 
most boat  (the  Sachem),  which,  after  the  third  or  fourth  round, 
hoisted  the  white  flag,  one  of  the  shots  passing  through  her  steam 
drum.  The  Clifton  in  the  meantime  had  attempted  to  pass  up 
through  Texas  channel ;  but,  receiving  a  shot  which  carried  away 
her  tiller  rope,  she  became  unmanageable  and  grounded  about 
500  yards  below  the  fort,  which  enabled  me  to  concentrate  all 
my  guns  on  her,  which  were  six  in  number,  two  thirty-two- 
pounder  smooth-bores,  two  twenty-four-pounder  smooth-bores, 
and  two  thirty-two-pounder  howitzers.  She  withstood  our  fire 
some  twenty-five  or  thirty-five  minutes,  when  she  also  hoisted  a 
white  flag.  During  the  time  she  was  aground  she  used  grape, 
and  her  sharpshooters  poured  an  incessant  shower  of  minie  balls 
into  the  works. 

"The  fight  lasted  from  the  time  I  fired  the  first  gun  until  the 
boats  surrendered ;  that  was  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour. 

"I  immediately  boarded  the  captured  Clifton  and  proceeded  to 
inspect  her  magazine,  accompanied  by  one  of  the  ship's  officers, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  505 


and  discovered  it  safe  and  well  stocked  with  ordnance  stores.  I 
did  not  visit  the  magazine  of  the  Sachem,  in  consequence  of  not 
having  any  small  boats  to  board  her  with.  The  Confederate 
States  gunboat  Uncle  Ben  steamed  down  to  the  Sachem  and 
towed  her  in  to  the  wharf.  Her  magazine  was  destroyed  by  the 
enemy  flooding  it. 

"During  the  engagement  I  was  nobly  and  gallantly  assisted  by 
Lieut.  N.  H.  Smith,  of  the  engineer  corps,  who  by  his  coolness 
and  bravery  won  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  whole  com- 
mand. This  officer  deserves  well  of  his  country. 

"To  Assistant  Surgeon  George  P.  Bailey  I  am  under  many 
obligations,  who,  having  nothing  to  do  in  his  own  line,  nobly 
pulled  off  his  coat  and  assisted  in  administering  Magruder  pills 
to  the  enemy,  and  behaved  with  great  coolness. 

"During  the  engagement  the  works  were  visited  by  Capt.  F. 
H.  Odium,  commanding  the  post,  and  Maj.  (Col.)  Leon  Smith, 
commanding  marine  department  of  Texas. 

"Capt.  W.  S.  Good,  ordnance  officer,  and  Dr.  Murray,  acting 
assistant  surgeon,  behaved  with  great  coolness  and  gallantry,  and 
by  them  I  was  enabled  to  send  for  reinforcements,  as  the  men 
were  becoming  exhausted  by  the  rapidity  of  our  fire ;  but  before 
they  could  accomplish  their  mission  the  enemy  surrendered. 

"Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  we  captured  with  forty-seven  men  two 
gunboats,  mounting  thirteen  guns  of  the  heaviest  caliber,  and 
about  350  prisoners.  All  my  men  behaved  like  heroes;  not  a 
man  flinched  from  his  post.  Our  motto  was,  'Victory  or  death.' 

"I  beg  leave  to  make  particular  mention  of  Private  Michael 
McKeenan,  who,  from  his  well  known  capacity  as  a  gunner,  I 
assigned  as  gunner  to  one  of  the  guns,  and  nobly  did  he  do  his 
duty.  It  was  his  shot  that  struck  the  Sachem  in  her  steam 
drum. 

"Too  much  praise  can  not  be  awarded  to  Maj.  (Col.)  Leon 
Smith  for  his  activity  and  energy  in  saving  and  bringing  the 
vessels  into  port."79 

79  Report  of  Lieut.  Frederick  Crocker,  United  States  Navy,  written 
while  a  prisoner  at  Houston,  September  12,  1863: 

"  The  arrangements  of  the  army  being  at  last  completed,  the  Clifton 
took  up  her  position  in  the  Texas  channel  and  began  to  shell  the  enemy. 
The  Sachem  started  up  the  Louisiana  channel,  followed  by  the  Arizona, 


606  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


General  Magruder  characterized  this  engagement  as  one  of  the 
most  extraordinary  of  the  war. 

"The  inquiry  may  naturally  arise,"  says  Hon.  Jefferson  Davis 
in  his  "Kise  and  Fall  of  the  Confederacy,"  "how  this  small 

and  after  grounding  slightly  entered  the  channel  fairly  and  joined  in  the 
action  as  they  moved  up.  The  Granite  City  and  the  General  Banks, 
with  their  anchors  up,  lay  ready  to  follow.  At  the  second  discharge 
from  the  enemy's  guns  the  Clifton,  with  a  full  head  of  steam,  steamed 
rapidly  up  the  Texas  channel  toward  the  battery.  When  the  Clifton 
was  about  halfway  up  to  the  battery  it  noticed,  with  great  surprise, 
that  the  Granite  City  and  the  General  Banks  were  still  lying  drifting 
across  the  tide,  making  no  attempt  to  follow.  At  the  same  time  a  shot 
from  the  enemy  struck  the  Sachem's  boiler,  disabling  her  instantly  and 
silencing  her  fire;  but,  depending  upon  the  support  of  all  the  others, 
the  Clifton  kept  on  her  course.  In  a  short  time,  however,  her  wheel 
rope  was  shot  away,  and  she  grounded  sooner  than  was  expected  and  in 
such  a  position  that  only  three  of  her  guns  could  bear  on  the  battery; 
and  with  these  we  kept  up  the  fight,  making  every  effort  to  get  the  ves- 
sel afloat;  but  before  we  succeeded  a  shot  passed  through  her  boiler  and 
machinery,  disabling  her  completely.  Until  this  time  every  man  stood 
to  his  post  and  the  fight  was  progressing  favorably;  but  the  steam  drove 
all  the  sharpshooters  off  the  upper  deck.  Many,  thinking  the  vessel  was 
about  to  blow  up,  jumped  overboard.  At  the  same  time  the  enemy  got 
our  range  and  their  fire  began  to  tell  severely.  The  vessel  twice  caught 
fire  and  the  men  were  falling  fast.  My  executive  officer  (acting  master 
Robert  Rhodes)  fell  mortally  wounded.  Two  other  officers  received 
wounds,  and  the  men,  noticing  that  no  support  was  near,  many  of 
them  became  unsteady.  Enough  of  them  remained,  however,  to  keep 
up  a  very  effectual  fire,  which  was  being  done  with  the  faint  hope  that 
we  might  yet  be  supported,  when  I  was  met  by  two  of  my  officers  and 
informed  by  one  of  them  that  he  had  hauled  down  the  flag  and  that  we 
could  not  fight  any  more.  With  great  indignation  I  ordered  it  hoisted 
again,  and  all  to  stand  to  their  guns;  but  the  example  was  contagious; 
with  few  exceptions  the  men  had  left  their  guns  and  were  taking  to  the 
water.  At  the  same  time  a  shot  from  the  enemy  disabled  one  of  our 
three  guns,  and  the  lock  of  another  broke,  the  remainder  of  the  crew 
firing  it  with  a  hammer.  Under  these  circumstances,  and  seeing  that 
the  Arizona  failed  to  push  on,  or  the  Granite  City  and  General  Banks  to 
make  the  slightest  attempt  to  support  me,  the  enemy's  fire  becoming 
more  and  more  deadly,  deserted  by  all  but  a  few  brilliant  exceptions,  I 
doemed  it  my  duty  to  stop  the  slaughter  by  showing  the  white  flag, 
which  was  done,  and  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  While  the 
fltrht  was  thus  progressing  the  commander  of  the  Sachem  sent  to  the 
Arizona  an  order  to  advance  and  take  him  in  tow,  but  it  was  not 
obeyed.  The  Arizona  lay  nearly  silent  until  the  termination  of  the 
fight,  and  then  turned  and  fled." 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  507 


number  of  men  could  take  charge  of  so  large  a  body  of  prisoners. 
This  required  that,  to  their  valor,  they  should  add  stratagem. 
A  few  men  were  placed  on  the  parapet  as  sentinels,  the  rest  were 
marched  out  as  a  guard  to  receive  the  prisoners  and  their  arms. 
Thus  was  concealed  the  fact  that  the  fort  was  empty.  The  re- 
port of  the  guns  bombarding  the  fort  had  been  heard,  and  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  battle  reinforcements  arrived  which  relieved 
the  little  garrison  from  its  embarrassment." 

Capt.  Henry  S.  Lubbock  says:  "After  the  raising  of  the 
blockade,  January  2,  1863,  how  long  I  do  not  now  remember, 
the  Federals  came  into  Sabine  Pass,  went  on  to  the  old  fort  and 
spiked  the  two  smooth-bore  guns  there,  and  broke  off  their  trun- 
nions. Some  time  later  General  Magruder  decided  to  send  a 
company  to  the  fort  to  place  it  in  order.  This  company  was  the 
Davis  Guards,  commanded  by  Captain  Odium,  Eichard  Dowling 
first  lieutenant.  They  were  accompanied  by  an  engineer  officer 
from  Louisiana  by  the  name  of  Smith.  The  guns,  with  the  help 
of  a  country  blacksmith,  were  put  in  order  by  banding  the  trun- 
nions. The  boys  placed  two  buoys  at  the  juncture  of  Texas  and 
Louisiana  channels  over  the  bar,  at  a  distance  of  about  800  yards 
from  the  fort,  and  practiced  nearly  every  week,  and  became  very 
proficient.  An  expedition  about  this  time  was  fitted  out  by  the 
Federal  government  to  capture  Sabine  Pass.  This  expedition 
was  under  the  command  of  General  Franklin,  was  supplied  with 
several  gunboats  and  many  transports,  and  numbered  12,000 
men. 

"Steaming  up  the  narrow  channel,  the  Federals  saw  two  men 
on  the  ramparts,  and  fired  on  them  repeatedly,  but  without 
effect,  as  the  men,  at  the  flash  of  the  guns  of  the  men-of-war, 
would  leap  from  the  parapet  into  the  casemate,  and,  when  the 
shots  had  hurtled  past  them  over  the  works,  return  to  their  posts. 
The  vessels  continued  to  approach.  Their  commanders  were 
aware  of  the  fact  that  the  fort  had  been  dismantled  several 
months  before,  and  had  no  idea  that  it  had  been  again  put  in 
a  condition  to  offer  serious  resistance.  As  soon  as  two  of  the  ves- 
sels arrived  at  the  points  where  the  practice  buoys  had  been  so 
often  shot  at,  the  Confederate  gunners  opened  fire,  and  so  well 
was  it  directed  that  the  ships  were  speedily  disabled  and  com- 
pelled to  hoist  the  signal  of  defeat.  One  was  the  propeller 


508  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Sachem  and  the  other  the  sidewheel  boat  Clifton.  While  both 
vessels  were  struck  a  number  of  times,  the  principal  damage  to 
the  Sachem  was  a  shot  in  her  boiler,  and  to  the  Clifton  the  cut- 
ting away  of  a  portion  of  her  steering  gear, — injuries  that  ren- 
dered the  vessels  unmanageable  and  helpless. 

"The  affair  at  Sabine  Pass  occurred  while  I  was  doing  duty 
in  Galveston  Bay.  Though  not  an  eye-witness  to  the  action,  I 
conversed,  immediately  after  it  occurred,  with  men  who  par- 
ticipated in  it,  and  feel  assured  that  the  incidents  related  to  me, 
and  by  me  retold  to  the  reader,  are  truthfully  reported. 

"I  was  sent  by  General  Magruder  to  take  charge  of  the  prizes, 
as  it  was  expected  that  the  Federal  fleet  would  attempt  to  cut 
them  out.  The  fleet  hovered  about  the  entrance  to  the  pass  for 
some  time ;  but,  with  the  exception  of  one  feeble  night  attempt, 
made  no  effort  to  re-enter  the  Pass,  across  one  of  the  channels 
of  which  (at  the  lighthouse)  I  had  swung  the  Sachem,  to  assist, 
if  need  be,  in  its  defense." 

To  properly  appreciate  the  value  of  Dick  Dowling's  valiant 
achievement,  we  need  only  consider  that,  had  the  land  forces  of 
Franklin's  fleet  made  a  successful  landing  at  Sabine,  the  victory 
would  have  served  the  purposes  of  the  enemy  even  better  than  if 
he  had  first  moved  on  Galveston  and  captured  that  city,  for  the 
reason  that  had  a  lodgment  been  effected  at  Fort  Griffin,  the 
enemy  could  have  perfected  organization  and  equipment  and 
marched  into  the  interior  before  we  could  have  assembled  and 
confronted  him  with  an  opposing  force,  a  movement  that  he 
could  not  have  executed  from  Galveston,  as  he  could  have  been 
confined  to  the  island  until  the  whole  strength  of  Texas  could 
have  been  hurled  against  him.  Sabine  Pass  was  of  further  value 
to  us  from  the  fact  that  it  was  the  most  available  port  for  run- 
ning the  blockade,  and  that  it  was  saved  to  us,  if  nothing  more 
had  been  accomplished,  would  have  amply  justified  the  congratu- 
lations and  words  of  praise  that  were  showered  upon  its  de- 
fender by  civil  and  military  officials,  press  and  people. 

Had  the  Federal  army  landed  there,  it  would  have  been  be- 
tween Taylor,  Magruder,  and  Kirby  Smith.  "Had  the  landing 
been  accomplished  either  at  the  Pass  or  below,"  says  General 
Banks,  in  a  letter  to  General  Halleck,  "a  movement  would  have 
been  immediately  made  for  Beaumont  from  the  Pass,  or  for 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  509 


Liberty  if  the  landing  had  been  made  below,  and  thence  directly 
to  Houston,  where  fortifications  would  have  been  thrown  up,  and 
our  line  of  communication  and  supplies  immediately  established 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Brazos  River,  west  of  Houston,  until  we 
could  have  gained  possession  of  Galveston  Island  and  city.  I 
should  have  had  in  ten  days  from  the  landing  20,000  men  at 
Houston,  where,  strongly  fortified,  they  could  have  resisted  the 
attack  of  any  force  that  it  was  possible  to  concentrate  at  that 
time.  Houston  would  have  been  nearly  in  the  center  of  the 
forces  in  and  about  Louisiana  and  Texas,  commanding  all  the 
principal  communications,  and  would  have  given  us  ultimately 
the  possession  of  the  State." 


510  LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-SEVEN. 

Consul  Theron,  at  Galveston,  and  Governor  Pickens,  of  South  Carolina  — 
Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith  to  Minister  Slidell  in  Paris  on  French  Interven- 
tion—  Maj.  John  Tyler's  Memorial  to  the  Governor  of  Texas  —  Gov- 
ernor Murrah  —  My  Last  Official  Message  and  Address  —  The  Military 
Situation  —  Commissioned  as  Lieutenant-Colonel  in  the  Confederate 
States  Army. 

I  have  before  me  a  printed  letter,  or  circular,  sent  to  me  by 
Gov.  F.  W.  Pickens,  of  South  Carolina,  addressed  to  the  Gover- 
nors of  the  Confederate  States,  under  date  of  March  22,  1862, 
favoring  a  conference  of  the  Governors  to  decide  upon  measures 
that  would  enable  them  to  render  more  efficient  support  to  the 
Confederate  government.  He  stated  that  in  this  way  definite 
knowledge  could  be  obtained  as  to  the  resources  of  the  several 
States  for  the  manufacture  of  munitions  of  war,  and  an  agree- 
ment reached  as  to  the  currency  issued  and  circulated  by  each; 
that  necessary  measures  could  be  adopted  with  regard  to  block- 
ade-running, and  that  a  plan  could  possibly  be  devised  for  the 
organization  of  the  militia  and  the  forming  of  a  great  central 
camp  of  100,000  men,  to  be  drilled  and  held  in  readiness  for  any 
emergency.  Governor  Pickens  then  went  on  to  say :  "There  may 
be  interposition  of  foreign  powers,  but  it  will  be  after  both  par- 
ties are  so  exhausted  that  they  will  be  able  to  interfere  as 
quasi  protectors.  Under  the  treaty  by  which  the  first  Napoleon 
ceded  Louisiana,  the  protection  of  property  and  personal  rights 
was  guaranteed  to  the  citizens  of  the  ceded  territory.  The  time 
may  come  when  the  present  sagacious  emperor  of  the  French 
may  interfere  and  assert  the  doctrine  that  the  country  west  of 
the  Mississippi  was  ceded  to  the  United  States  as  a  government, 
and  that,  as  such  a  government  may  be  destroyed  by  being  broken 
into  separate  combinations,  and  also  that  the  rights  of  persons 
and  property  may  be  destroyed,  he  will  interfere  and  assume 
the  exercise  of  the  power  resulting  from  reverted,  or  lapsed, 
sovereignty. 

"...  All  these  foreign  issues  that  may  arise  will  be 
deeply  important  to  us.  ...  No  human  sagacity  can  see  at 
present  what  may  be  before  us. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  511 


"It  is  clear,  in  any  point  of  view,  that  our  very  existence  as  a 
free  people  is  now  immediately  involved  in  the  terrible  conflict 
upon  which  we  seem  to  be  just  entering." 

I  was  too  intent  on  the  prosecution  of  my  proper  labors  in 
looking  after  the  interests  of  my  own  State,  and  in  giving  aid 
to  the  Confederate  authorities  in  the  way  they  had  asked  for  it, 
to  engage  in  any  outside  work,  and  I  declined  to  consider  the 
proposition.  In  my  reply  to  Governor  Pickens  I  said : 

"We  are  entirely  isolated  from  our  sister  States,  having  no 
railroad  communication  or  other  means  of  speedy  intercourse. 
Texas  is  doing  all  she  can  to  comply  with  every  requisition  made 
upon  her. 

"I  am  happy  to  state  that  instead  of  6  per  cent  of  the  white 
population  (the  quota  required),  we  have  in  the  service  about 
12  per  cent.  She  has  to  protect  her  coast  and  frontier,  and  to- 
day we  have  not  a  soldier  in  service  within  the  State  that  does 
not  reside  within  her  territory. 

"From  the  isolation  of  our  position,  we  must  be  self-reliant, 
and  should  the  invader  come,  Texas  must  meet  him  alone  and 
unaided.  We  know  this ;  still  our  men  are  rushing  to  Arkansas, 
Tennessee,  and  Virginia,  and  with  them  they  take  what  arms  and 
ammunition  they  can  control. 

"Under  these  circumstances  she  cannot  enter  into  any  arrange- 
ments with  the  States  outside  of  her  duties  to  the  general  gov- 
ernment. Eest  assured,  sir,  that  we  have  every  confidence  in  the 
general  result.  We  well  know  that  gallant  South  Carolina  will 
perform  well  her  part  in  the  great  struggle,  and  I  venture  to  say 
Texas  'will  keep  up  her  corner.' '; 

A  few  months  later  I  received  a  letter  (dated  August  19, 
1862)  from  B.  Theron,  the  French  and  Spanish  consul  at  Gal- 
veston.  I  thought  I  saw  in  the  letter  a  bid  for  French  interven- 
tion in  the  affairs  of  Texas  as  a  power  independent  of  the  Con- 
federacy. I  repelled  the  idea  with  scorn. 

I  replied,  September  9th,  to  the  note  of  M.  Theron,  as  follows 
[the  unimportant  paragraphs  are  omitted]  : 

"In  answer  to  your  first  interrogatory,  permit  me  to  say  that 
the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the  United  States  was  a  good  political 
measure. 

"As  to  your  second  question,  I  answer  most  emphatically  that 


512  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS. 


the  act  of  disunion  and  of  the  junction  of  the  State  of  Texas  to 
the  Southern  States  was  a  good  and  proper  political  step. 

"In  reply  to  your  third  inquiry,  I  have  to  say,  the  re-establish- 
ment of  the  old  Republic  of  Texas  will  not  be  beneficial  to  our 
beloved  adopted  country. 

"Texas  has  linked  her  fate  with  those  of  her  sisters  of  the 
South.  She  will  be  true,  steadfast,  and  victorious." 

This  done,  I,  on  September  llth,  enclosed  Theron's  note  and 
my  reply  thereto  in  a  letter  to  President  Davis,  in  which  I  said : 

"I  have  the  honor  to  forward  for  your  consideration  the  en- 
closed copies  of  letters,  the  one  marked  A  from  the  French  and 
Spanish  consul  at  Galveston,  the  other  marked  B  being  my  reply 
thereto. 

"As  the  proceeding  of  the  said  consul  would  seem  to  indicate 
an  incipient  intrigue,  I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  advise  you 
thereof  on  the  threshold." 

As  the  result  of  this  piece  of  official  impertinence,  Theron  was 
expelled  from  the  Confederacy  by  President  Davis,  as  Genet,  for 
a  like  offense,  had  been  expelled  from  the  United  States. 

As  to  French  intervention,  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith  the  next 
year  (1863)  in  a  letter  to  John  Slidell,80  our  agent  in  Paris, 
said  in  part : 

"The  action  of  the  French  in  Mexico,  the  erection  of  an  em- 
pire under  their  auspices,  makes  the  establishment  of  the  Con- 
federacy the  policy  of  the  French  government.  The  condition 
of  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi,  separated  from  the  general 
government  at  Richmond;  the  exhausted  state  of  the  country, 
with  its  fighting  population  in  the  armies  east  of  the  Mississippi ; 
the  vast  preparations  making  by  the  enemy  to  complete  the  occu- 

•°  General  Smith  most  probably  did  not  act  in  this  matter  without 
the  sanction  of  the  Confederate  government.  And  Major  Tyler's  paper, 
submitted  a  few  weeks  later  to  Governor  Lubbock,  embodying  practi- 
cally the  same  ideas,  confirms  the  view  that  the  policy  of  inaugurating 
a  movement  to  bring  about  French  intervention  had  at  least  the  secret 
approval  of  President  Davis.  It  was  evidently  the  only  policy  that 
could  ensure  Confederate  independence.  Had  England  and  France  set 
the  Confederacy  on  its  legs  there  would  have  been  a  perpetual  French 
empire  in  Mexico,  and  perpetual  British  dominion  in  Canada.  It  was 
their  last  opportunity  to  secure  or  maintain  a  foothold  on  this  continent. 
ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  513 


pation  and  the  subjugation  of  this  whole  Western  Department, 
are  all  matters  which,  if  properly  brought  before  the  French 
emperor,  should  influence  him  in  hastening  the  intervention  of 
his  good  services  in  our  behalf.  This  succor  must  come  speedily, 
or  it  will  be  too  late.  Without  assistance  from  abroad,  or  an 
extraordinary  interposition  of  Providence,  less  than  twelve 
months  will  see  this  country  irretrievably  lost,  and  the  French 
protectorate  in  Mexico  will  find  a  hostile  power  established  on 
their  frontier,  of  exhaustless  resources  and  great  military 
strength,  impelled  by  revenge  and  the  traditional  policy  of  its 
government  to  overthrow  all  foreign  influences  on  the  American 
continent.  .  .  .  The  barbarous  conduct  of  the  war  by  the 
enemy  calls  loudly  for  the  interposition  of  those  powers  who 
really  hold  the  destiny  of  our  country  in  their  hands." 

One  week  before  my  term  of  office  expired,  John  Tyler,  son  of 
ex-President  Tyler,  came  to  Austin,  and  addressed  to  the  Gover- 
nor of  Texas,  the  Governor-elect,  and  those  in  authority,  a  vo- 
luminous and  ably  written  paper  contending  that,  as  Texas  was 
a  part  of  the  Louisiana  territory  sold  by  France  to  the  United 
States,  and  that,  as  in  the  treaty  Bonaparte  had  stipulated  that 
the  inhabitants  should  be  protected  in  their  lives,  liberties,  and 
property  (all  of  which  were  then  assailed),  they  had  a  right  to 
appeal  to  France  for  protection,  and  that  the  then  Bonapartist 
emperor  of  the  French  would  gladly  take  advantage  of  the  op- 
portunity to  interfere  in  their  behalf.  He  said  that  the  States 
of  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  and  Missouri,  being  bound  hand  and 
foot,  Texas  (free  from  the  invader  and  still  proudly  defiant)  was 
alone  in  position  to  make  the  appeal,  and  should  make  it  with- 
out delay.  Many  pages  of  beautiful  English  were  wasted  by  him 
to  no  purpose.  No  Texan  seriously  entertained  for  a  moment  the 
idea  of  abandoning  the  Confederacy,  or  any  portion  thereof,  to 
continue  without  the  aid  of  his  State  the  desperate  struggle 
which  all  had  entered  together,  in  which  all  were  engaged,  and 
that  according  to  the  rules  of  honor,  as  interpreted  by  our  peo- 
ple, must  bring  victory  or  bring  defeat  to  all.81 

81  Mr.  N.  L.  Norton  told  me  in  February,  1900,  in  substance  that  he 
attended  Maj.  John  Tyler  from  General  Price's  headquarters  in  Ark- 
ansas in  the  fall  of  1863,  to  Austin,  with  instructions  to  secure  if  pos- 

33 


514  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


As  to  Texas,  she  needed  no  foreign  buyonets  to  protect  her 
soil;  that,  her  own  sons  had  demonstrated  their  ability  to  do; 
and  besides,  she  had  been  gallantly  represented  by  regiments, 
composed  of  her  bravest  and  best,  on  every  battlefield  from  New 
Mexico  to  Virginia. 

I  and  others  were  still  confident  that  the  Confederacy  would 
be  victorious,  and  to  effect  that  consummation  devoted  our  every 
energy,  wasting  no  time  or  strength  upon  Utopian  schemes. 

If  the  aid  of  the  French  or  any  other  European  power  was  to 
be  secured  for  the  Confederacy,  it  could  be  secured  by  the  Rich- 
mond government  in  more  adequate  form  and  upon  better  terms 
than  it  could  be  obtained  by  a  single  State  or  any  number  less 
than  all.  So  believing,  I  transferred  the  consideration  of  that 
subject  entirely  to  that  government.82 

sible  suitable  action  upon  the  part  oi  the  Texas  authorities  to  bring  to 
a  head  the  proposal  that  it  was  said  Marshal  Bazaine  was  ready  to  make 
in  Mexico  looking  to  French  intervention  in  our  behalf.  These  gentle- 
men were  several  weeks  the  guests  of  Mr.  James  Bouldin,  living  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  opposite  the  capital.  Mr.  Bouldin  approving-  the 
plan,  Major  Tyler  prepared  his  argument,  writing  at  it  from  day  to  day. 
When  completed  it  was  read  and  approved  by  all;  a  copy  was  taken, 
and  the  original  presented  by  the  gentlemen  to  Governor  Lubbock  in 
person.  The  Governor  received  them  courteously  and  listened  atten- 
tively to  the  reading  of  the  document;  but  said  the  matter  was  of  too 
grave  a  character  for  him  to  act  upon  without  consulting  President  Davis, 
and  that  would  be  impossible  for  him  to  do,  as  his  term  of  office  would 
expire  in  a  few  days.  Mr.  Norton,  now  a  highly  respected  citizen  of 
Austin,  was  then  a  captain  in  the  Confederate  army.  He  believes  that 
an  alliance  could  have  beon  effected  between  France  and  the  Confed- 
eracy had  Texas  promptly  taken  the  initiative. — ED. 

8*  I  have  carefully  read  Major  Tyler's  paper,  in  the  office  of  the  Sec- 
retary of  State.  It  is  an  able  argument,  designed  to  prove  that  the 
Confederacy,  unless  aided  by  some  European  power,  was  certain  to  be 
crushed  sooner  or  later;  that  an  opportunity  for  securing  help  through 
an  appeal  to  France  for  intervention  to  maintain  the  terms  of  Napo- 
leon's treaty  ceding  Louisiana  to  the  United  States  was  now  afforded; 
that  Missouri.  Arkansas,  and  Louisiana  being  overrun  by  the  Yankees, 
it  devolved  upon  Texas  to  make  that  appeal  on  behalf  of  herself  and 
her  downtrodden  and  helpless  sister  States.  This  did  not  imply  deser- 
tion of  the  Confederacy,  as,  had  intervention  been  secured  in  behalf  of 
the  States  carved  out  of  the  Louisiana  purchase,  its  benefits,  through  a 
Franco- Yankee  war,  would  have  inured  to  the  whole  Confederacy. 

The  French  authorities  in  Mexico,  having  no  pretext  founded  on  an 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  515 


No  Democratic  or  other  State  conventions  were  held  in  1863. 
Hon.  Pendleton  Murrah  and  Judge  T.  J.  Chambers  were  the 
candidates  for  Governor  before  the  people,  and  at  the  election 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  Mr.  Murrah  was  chosen  over  his  com- 
petitor by  a  handsome  majority. 

The  Tenth  Legislature  met  November  2,  and  a  few  days  there- 
after I  sent  in  a  message,  in  which  I  said  in  part : 

"The  mighty  contest  in  which  is  involved,  on  our  part,  our 
property,  lives,  liberty,  and  honor,  has  progressed,  since  your 
adjournment,  checkered  with  alternate  successes  and  reverses  to 
our  arms.  In  the  general  summing  up,  however,  of  results,  we 
have  no  reason  to  despond  or  falter. 

"The  war  has,  nevertheless,  assumed  gigantic  proportions,  de- 
manding sacrifices  on  the  part  of  all;  our  people  are  unalterably 
fixed  in  the  determination  to  prosecute  it  to  the  bitter  end,  and 
never  to  yield  while  a  man  is  left  to  strike  a  blow  for  freedom. 
As  the  contest  lengthens  our  armies  become  more  experienced 
and  efficient  in  the  varied  and  difficult  requirements  of  active 
warfare,  and  their  present  condition,  if  supported  as  the  neces- 
sities of  their  situation  demand,  is  such  as  to  inspire  us  with  a 
just  confidence  in  their  power  to  successfully  resist  the  hosts  of 
the  enemy. 

"It  is  true  that  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson  are  both  in  the 
enemy's  possession ;  their  defense  was  alike  honorable  to  their 
respective  garrisons,  and  conferred  additional  luster  upon  the 
Southern  name.  Those  positions  were  wrested  from  us,  not  by 
the  prowess  of  the  enemy's  armies,  but  by  the  total  exhaustion  of 
our  magazines.  The  gloom  that  for  a  moment  overshadowed  the 
minds  of  our  people  upon  their  loss  was  quickly  dissipated  before 
the  inherent  courage  of  the  Southern  race,  which  rose  equal  to 
the  emergency.  The  results  to  the  enemy  have  proved  wholly 
inadequate  to  the  great  sacrifices  made  by  them  in  securing  those 
points,  and  to-day,  with  those  positions  in  their  hands,  the  navi- 

appeal  for  intervention  from  Texas,  soon  assured  United  States  Minister 
Corwin  that  Prance  would  not  interfere  in  the  affairs  of  the  Confed- 
eracy, and  the  main  Yankee  army  was  withdrawn  from  southwestern 
Texas  to  enter  upon  the  Red  River  campaign  of  1864.  Upon  what  small 
threads  great  events  hang!  Had  Governor  Murrah  met  the  French  over- 
tures vigorously  and  with  wisdom,  there  might  have  been  a  Soiithern 
Confederacy  now. — ED. 


516  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


gallon  of  the  Mississippi  is  to  them  a  myth.  We  could  well 
afford  to  fortify  several  such  places  and  surrender  them  upon 
the  same  terms  as  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson. 

"The  occupation  of  those  fortresses  in  a  degree  separates  the 
States  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department  from  their  sister 
States  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  we  must  contend  at  present 
alone  against  the  numerous  armies  of  the  enemy  thrown  against 
us  upon  this  side  of  that  river  for  our  subjugation.  Their  forces 
are  in  possession  of  Missouri,  of  a  large  portion  of  Arkansas  and 
Louisiana,  and  their  standards  are  nearly  advanced  to  the  bor- 
ders of  Texas.  The  executive  has  exerted  the  power  to  the  extent 
vested  in  him  by  law  to  call  forth  the  resources  of  the  State  to 
meet  the  crisis  that  is  upon  her.  The  whole  resources  of  the 
State,  both  in  men  and  means,  are,  however,  demanded  by  the 
exigencies  of  her  position,  and  it  is  for  your  honorable  body  to 
take  such  measures  as  will  develop  them  to  the  utmost,  and  bring 
them  into  effective  operation  for  the  safety  of  the  State  and  the 
success  of  the  general  cause.  Without  such  vigorous  action,  it  is 
to  be  feared  unnumbered  calamities  and  misfortunes  will  be  the 
penalty  of  our  supineness  and  want  of  patriotism;  and  Texans 
must  rise  in  their  might,  as  one  man,  with  one  sole  resolve — to 
be  free,  or  perish  with  the  land  of  their  birth  and  adoption ! 
Thus  animated,  we  shall  conquer,  and  Texas  will  be  the  grave, 
not  the  inheritance,  of  the  invader. 

"The  ranks  of  the  brave  men  in  the  field  have  been  thinned  by 
disease  and  the  sword, — they  look  to  you  to  call  forth  the  re- 
sources of  the  State  to  aid  them  in  saving  the  country,  and  save 
them  from  being  crushed  by  the  superior  forces  and  means  of  the 
enemy. 

"The  States  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  have  fighting  men 
enough  in  arms  and  those  capable  of  bearing  arms,  together  with 
resources  amply  sufficient  to  protect,  defend,  and  drive  from 
their  territory  the  last  Yankee  soldier  that  may  invade  us ;  but 
to  effect  this  we  must  realize  the  fact  that  the  country  is  at  war; 
private  affairs  must  cease  to  occupy  so  much  of  our  attention ; 
we  must  all  be  stimulated  with  a  patriotic  determination  to  be 
free,  and  to  rid  our  soil  of  the  foul  presence  of  our  hated 
enemies. 

"The  swarms  of  men  engaged  in  profitable  business  on  their 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  517 


own  account,  who  are  exempted  from  or  avoid  military  service 
upon  one  pretext  or  another,  the  thousands  occupied  in  driving 
teams  and  cattle  for  the  government  and  government  contractors, 
must  be  placed  in  their  respective  companies  and  replaced  with 
negroes.  The  able-bodied  soldiers  and  employes  about  the  posts 
and  towns  must  take  the  field,  and  their  places  be  supplied  by 
the  old,  the  very  young, ,  and  the  infirm. 

"The  Confederate  Congress  and  the  Legislatures  of  the  sev- 
eral States  must  do  away  with  all  exemptions  and  substitutions, 
— convert  every  man  in  the  country  into  a  soldier  until  this  war 
is  over.  Instead  of  exempting  men,  let  them,  when  necessary, 
be  detailed  to  perform  such  duties  as  may  be  required  of  them. 
The  Confederate  Congress,  in  passing  an  exemption  law,  did  so 
for  the  public  good,  and  not  to  subserve  the  private  interests  of 
the  individuals  exempted.  Unfortunately,  most  exempts  appear 
to  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  some  particular  favor 
granted  to  them,  and  they  have  used  their  position  as  exempts, 
in  too  many  cases,  entirely  for  their  personal  benefit  and  ad- 
vancement. ... 

"Time  has  demonstrated  that  exemption  from  military  service 
has  proved  of  doubtful  policy,  and  worked  an  injury  to  our  cause. 
I  trust  this  policy  will  be  at  once  abandoned. 

"The  practice  of  allowing  men  to  furnish  substitutes  has  been 
a  great  bane  to  the  army ;  every  man  capable  of  doing  military 
duty  should  represent  himself  in  this  great  struggle.  The  result 
of  permitting  substitutes  is,  that  those  who  wish  to  avoid  service, 
and  have  means,  can  bid  the  most  exorbitant  prices  for  the  ser- 
vice obtained,  and  to  such  an  extent  has  it  been  carried  that  small 
fortunes  are  being  paid  to  secure  a  substitute,  rendering  it  ex- 
clusively beneficial  to  the  wealthy. 

"There  are  a  large  number  of  people  among  us  who  are  en- 
tirely devoted  to  the  wild  hunt  after  wealth. 

"This  mania  is  confined  to  no  particular  class,  but  pervades 
all  occupations  and  employments.  It  embraces  the  shopkeeper, 
the  planter,  the  farmer,  stock  raiser,  the  professional  man,  me- 
chanic, minister  of  the  gospel,  and  in  some  instances  the  soldier 
himself.  I  blush  to  say  that  in  Texas,  where  we  have  thousands 
of  surplus  bushels  of  corn,  wheat,  barley,  oats,  rye,  etc.,  with 
no  enemy  in  our  midst  robbing,  burning,  and  destroying  our 


518  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


property,  these  articles  are  higher  than  in  our  sister  States,  in 
part  occupied  by  the  enemy,  and  that  Confederate  treasury  notes 
are  less  appreciated  than  in  any  State  of  the  Confederacy. 

"In  March  last,  Major-General  Magruder  requested  of  me  the 
use  of  the  penitentiary  as  a  place  of  confinement  for  the  prisoners 
of  war  in  his  district.  I  acceeded  to  his  request,  conditioned  that 
such  use  should  not  impair  the  material  interests  of  the  institu- 
tion. I  wrote  to  this  effect  to  the  superintendent  and  authorized 
him  to  receive  the  prisoners,  if  he  was  satisfied  the  material  inter- 
ests of  the  institution  would  not  suffer.  The  prisoners  were  re- 
ceived some  time  in  the  later  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  May. 
Subsequently  doubts  arose  in  my  mind  as  to  the  propriety  of  the 
step,  solely,  however,  upon  the  ground  of  risk  to  the  estabish- 
ment,  and  not  as  to  the  propriety  of  its  use  as  a  place  of  confine- 
ment for  prisoners,  the  enemy  having  frequently  incarcerated  our 
soldiers  in  such  places.  I  thereupon  addressed  Brigadier-General 
Scurry,  requesting  their  withdrawal,  which  was  done.  In  the 
month  of  October  I  received  two  communications  from  Major- 
General  Magruder,  again  urgently  requesting  its  use  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  Federal  prisoners  of  war  taken  at  Sabine  Pass. 
Many  very  important  reasons  were  adduced  by  him  in  support  of 
the  measure,  but  none  sufficient,  in  my  judgment,  to  overcome 
my  previous  objections,  and  which  I  yet  entertain,  viz.,  the  risk 
of  destruction  to  the  sole  manufactory  of  cloth  west  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  of  incalculable  importance,  therefore,  to  the 
armies  of  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department.  I  declined  his 
request.  I  respectfully  ask  the  Legislature  to  take  into  consid- 
eration the  propriety  of  using  the  penitentiary  for  such  pur- 
pose. .  .  . 

"In  calling  for  10,000  men  to  fill  the  last  requisition  made 
upon  mo  by  the  commanding  general  of  this  district,  I  was  of 
opinion  the  time  had  arrived  when  the  necessities  of  the  country 
demanded  the  services  of  every  man  liable  under  the  military 
law.  I  therefore  directed  all  aliens  to  be  enrolled  and  subjected 
to  the  draft.  T  am  clearly  of  opinion  that  they  are  liable  under 
the  law.  Many  protests  have  been  filed  with  this  department, 
and  various  parties,  representing  themselves  as  foreign  consuls, 
have  made  applications  for  the  release  of  individuals  as  subjects 
of  foreign  powers.  Their  liability  to  draft  resting  solely  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  519 


question  of  domicile,  I  have  left  them  to  pursue  their  remedy 
through  the  courts,  in  the  meantime  retaining  them  as  State 
soldiers. 

"...  I  had  hoped  that  ere  this  an  occasion  would  have 
offered  when  I  could  with  safety  to  the  frontier  have  transferred 
the  frontier  regiment  to  the  Confederate  service.  I  have  never, 
however,  received  such  assurances  of  its  continuance  on  the  line, 
or  the  replacing  of  it  with  other  efficient  troops,  as  would  justify 
me  either  in  transferring  or  disbanding  it ;  hence  it  has  been  con- 
tinued in  State  service.  This  little  command  has  been  charged 
with  the  defense  of  a  line  nearly  five  hundred  miles  in  length. 
That  it  has  not  accomplished  this  duty  to  the  satisfaction  of  all 
those  most  deeply  interested  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  I  doubt, 
however,  if  any  other  regiment  similarly  situated  could  have 
done  better. 

"I  regret  to  say  that  for  several  months  past  the  depredations 
have  been  very  frequent.  Murders  have  been  committed  and 
horses  stolen.  I  fear  the  Indians  have  been  instigated  to  these 
acts  by  our  barbarous  Yankee  enemies  and  the  renegade  whites 
among  them.  My  views  in'  regard  to  our  Indian  enemies  are  now 
as  they  have  ever  been.  We  can  hope  for  no  peace  with  them  un- 
til we  are  in  a  position  to  dictate  terms ;  and  to  do  this  we  must 
pursue  them  to  their  own  homes,  chastising  them  with  a  heavy 
hand. 

"In  calling  out  troops  I  have  in  some  cases  exempted  the  fron- 
tier counties  and  held  their  men  for  local  defense.  I  have  au- 
thorized the  formation  of  minute  companies  in  them,  to  be  com- 
posed of  furloughed  conscripts  and  those  liable  to  State  service, 
for  the  protection  of  the  families  in  those  exposed  regions.  These 
organizations  are  progressing  and  will,  I  trust,  render  efficient 
service.  The  establishment  of  the  northern  sub-military  district 
of  Texas  by  the  Confederate  authorities,  and  the  concentration 
of  troops  in  that  vicinity,  will,  I  believe,  aid  materially  in  the 
general  protection  of  the  frontier.  .  . 

"In  view  of  the  isolation  of  the  States  west  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  whereby  they  are  thrown  upon  their  own  resources,  and 
the  great  difficulties  attending  the  receipt  of  arms  and  munitions 
of  war  from  east  of  that  river,  I  most  earnestly  recommend  that 
an  appropriation  of  not  less  than  $1,000,000  be  made,  based 
upon  cotton  bonds,  or  that  cotton  be  purchased,  to  be  paid  for  in 


520  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


bonds ;  and  that  the  sum  so  appropriated  be  invested  in  arms  and 
munitions  of  war  for  the  benefit  of  the  State.  Arms  and  muni- 
tions could  be  thus  speedily  procured,  and  would  enable  us  suc- 
cessfully to  resist  an  invasion  by  the  enemy.  .  .  . 

"I  can  not  close  this,  probably  my  last  official  communication 
to  any  Legislature  of  Texas,  without  again  congratulating  you 
on  the  general  prosperity  of  our  State.  Texas  has  indeed  cause 
to  be  thankful  to  Divine  Providence  for  the  many  evidences  of 
His  sustaining  arm  exhibited  during  the  progress  of  this  great 
contest.  She  has  been  blessed  with  abundant  harvests  and  un- 
paralleled health;  and  in  every  instance  in  which  our  people 
have  been  called  to  meet  the  ruthless  invader  their  gallantry,  with 
the  aid  of  God,  has  been  rewarded  with  entire  success.  Were  it 
not  for  the  great  loss  we  have  sustained  in  our  brave  men  who 
have  fallen  by  the  sword  of  the  enemy,  and  alas,  too  many  by 
disease,  we  could  scarcely  realize  the  dreadful  scenes  that  have 
been  enacted  in  other  portions  of  the  Confederacy.  Her  in- 
ternal affairs  are  in  a  most  prosperous  condition,  and  our  State 
finances  present  a  most  encouraging  view  for  a  people  engaged 
in  so  great  and  exhausting  a  war.  .  .  . 

"We  must  be  united, — we  must  be  as  a  band  of  brothers, — 
we  must  and  will  sustain  the  patriotic  and  intellectual  states- 
man at  the  head  of  the  government,  the  gallant  commanders, 
and  their  chivalrous  soldiers.  We  will  sustain  the  families  of 
those  bravely  doing  battle  for  our  country — we  will  forget  our 
private  interests — we  will  forego  the  love  of  money,  ease,  and 
luxury — we  will  all  pledge  ourselves  to  do  these  things,  rally 
around  the  standards  of  our  bleeding  country,  and  continue  to 
strike  as  long  as  an  armed  Yankee  stands  upon  our  soil." 

My  term  of  service  as  Governor  of  Texas  having  drawn  to  a 
close,  I,  upon  the  occasion  of  the  inauguration  of  my  successor, 
delivered  a  parting  address,  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  rep- 
resentatives of  the  people  and  a  large  gathering  of  citizens,  met 
together  within  the  walls  of  the  capitol.  Many  ladies  graced 
the  hall  with  their  presence  and  lent  inspiration  to  the  moment. 
In  my  address  I  said,  among  other  things: 

"Two  years  ago,  called  by  the  partiality  and  suffrages  of  the 
people  of  Texas,  I,  upon  this  stand  and  in  this  building,  in  the 
presence  of  Almighty  God,  assumed  to  discharge  the  important 


LfJB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  521 


duties  incumbent  upon  me  as  the  chief  executive  of  the  noble, 
chivalrous,  and  patriotic  State  of  Texas. 

"In  accordance  with  their  mandates,  and  in  obedience  to  the 
Constitution  and  laws,  I  am  here  to-day  to  surrender  those  trusts 
into  the  hands  of  the  people,  and  of  the  distinguished  citizen 
who  is  entitled  to  assume  them.  , 

"In  this  crisis  we  may  esteem  ourselves  fortunate  in  being 
thus  peaceably  permitted  to  assemble  and  witness  our  State  gov- 
ernment pursuing  its  usual  functions,  without  the  fear  of  in- 
terruption from  the  abolition  despot  and  his  Hessian  soldiery. 

"On  that  occasion  I  swore  'to  faithfully  and  impartially  dis- 
charge and  perform  all  the  duties  incumbent  on  me  as  Governor, 
according  to  the  best  of  my  skill  and  ability,  agreeably  to  the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  the  State  of  Texas,  and  also  to  the 
Constitution  and  laws  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America,  so 
long  as  the  State  of  Texas  shall  remain  a  member  of  that  Con- 
federacy.' In  strict  compliance  with  that  obligation,  I  have 
studiously  endeavored  to  discharge  every  duty  incumbent  on  me. 
That  I  have  acted  faithfully  and  impartially,  I  know  full  well. 
In  the  troublous  times  that  have  encompassed  us  since  my  eleva- 
tion to  office  I  could  scarcely  hope  to  conduct  the  affairs  of  a 
State  like  ours,  so  extensive  in  territory,  so  diversified  in  in- 
terests, with  an  exposed  frontier  extending  from  Eed  River  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  with  such  skill  and  ability  as  to  give  universal 
and  entire  satisfaction. 

"While  I  have  earnestly  sought  to  discharge  all  the  duties  im- 
posed on  me  as  chief  magistrate  of  the  State,  I  most  freely  ad- 
mit that  the  great  war  in  which  we  are  involved  has  engaged  the 
most  of  my  time  and  energy.  On  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
my  office,  I  was  fully  impressed  with  the  many  responsibilities 
I  was  assuming.  I  felt  satisfied  the  war  would  be  prosecuted 
by  our  enemies  with  all  the  fiendish  barbarity  they  have  shown 
themselves  so  capable  of  inflicting  upon  a  people  so  superior  to 
them  in  all  that  constitutes  manliness,  virtue,  and  chivalry.  I 
was  convinced  that  no  means  would  be  left  untried  to  reduce  the 
people  of  the  Southern  States  to  the  condition  of  Tiewers  of 
wood  and  drawers  of  water'  for  their  Yankee  taskmasters,  and 
that,  failing  in  all  else,  they  would  seek  finally  to  raise  a  servile 
war  in  our  midst,  with  the  hope  of  ultimately  subjugating  or  an- 


522  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


nihilating  us.  I  have  not  been  mistaken;  and  if  to-day  every 
city,  town,  village,  and  farm  yard  is  not  red  with  the  blood  of  our 
women  and  children,  shed  by  our  servile  population,  it  is  not  be- 
cause our  more  than  savage  and  despicable  foes  have  not  desired 
and  attempted  to  accomplish  it.  The  evidence  of  their  hellish 
design  they  have  themselves  unblushingly  proclaimed  to  an  in- 
dignant world.  The  skill  and  bravery  of  our  generals,  the  en- 
ergy and  heroism  of  our  men,  have  thus  far  baffled  the  fiendish 
purpose. 

"To-day  our  cause  looks  brighter  than  it  has  for  many  months 
past.  In  every  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  penetrate  our  State  he 
has  been  signally  repulsed.  The  invincible  army  of  Kosecrans, 
as  vauntingly  termed  by  a  boastful  press,  has  met  with  a  dis- 
graceful and  disastrous  overthrow,83  while  the  army  of  Meade 
is  reduced  to  a  painful  defensive  for  the  protection  of  the  North- 
ern capital.  Our  gallant  little  corps  in  Louisiana,  strictly  com- 
posed of  Texans,  harasses  him  continually.  Charleston  the 
'Doomed  City,'  still  defiantly  answers  the  thunder  of  his  guns, 
peal  for  peal,  her  citizens  evincing  a  determination  to  bury 
themselves  in  her  ruins  rather  than  yield.  Our  armies  every- 
where are  strong,  in  excellent  condition,  well  fed  and  clothed. 
We  are  daily  improving  in  the  production  of  supplies  at  home 
for  the  use  of  our  people  and  army ;  munitions  of  war  in  abund- 
ance are  being  manufactured  within  the  Confederacy;  our  peo- 
ple are  rising  daily  equal  to  the  emergency  of  the  times,  and  be- 
coming more  self-reliant  and  defiant. 

"A  spirit  of  resistance  is  seizing  hold  of  the  very  young  and 
old  that  will  ultimately  place  every  man  able  to  bear  arms  into 
the  service  of  the  country.  They  are  schooling  themselves  to  be- 
lieve that  nothing  can  be  valuable  to  them,  or  be  worth  living  for, 
unless  OUT  independence  is  secured. 

"The  noble  women,  too,  of  our  country  are  ever  in  advance 
of  the  men.  They  are  imbued  with  the  conviction  that  submis- 
sion would  leave  them  the  slaves  of  most  miserable  and  cowardly 
taskmasters, — that  they  would  be  forced  into  association  with  a 
people  whom,  from  their  cowardly  and  brutal  atrocities,  they 
have  learned  to  hate  and  despise.  Hence  they  are  prepared  to 
make  every  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  freedom, — hence  it  is  that 

88  At  the  battle  of  Ohickamaujra. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  523 


their  wealth  is  freely  lavished, — that  we  find  them  in  the  cities 
and  towns  as  well  as  by  the  roadside,  ministering  with  tender 
and  devoted  care  and  assiduity  to  the  necessities  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  soldier;  that  we  behold  them,  morning,  noon,  and 
night,  sewing,  knitting,  weaving  and  spinning  for  the  'brave 
soldier  boys;'  finally,  they  give  up  to  their  struggling  country 
their  fathers,  husbands,  brothers,  sons,  and  lovers,  preferring  to 
be  orphaned,  widowed,  and  brotherless  to  seeing  their  country 
overrun  and  reduced  by  a  people  as  demoralized,  infidel,  and 
barbarous  as  our  Northern  foes. 

"With  such  spirit  and  determination  animating  our  people, 
we  have  nothing  to  fear. 

"I  presume  that  most  men  in  the  South  feel  as  I  do.  I  know 
that  secession  was  a  necessity  forced  upon  the  South  and  under- 
taken that  her  freedom  might  be  preserved,  and,  in  assisting  to 
bring  about  that  measure,  I  felt  that,  as  a  good  and  true  man, 
I  from  that  day  belonged  to  my  country ;  that,  whatever  adversi- 
ties might  follow  that  step,  as  an  honest  man  and  a  patriot,  I 
should  bear  them  without  a  murmur;  that  all  I  possessed  of 
ability,  energy,  time,  property,  aye,  life  itself,  all  belonged  to 
the  country,  and  when  called  for,  must  be  laid  upon  the  altar 
of  freedom.  I  resolved  that,  whilst  this  war  lasted,  all  private 
enterprise  should  be  abandoned  and  that  it  would  be  a  fraud 
upon  the  people,  and  a  crime  against  our  sacred  cause,  to  neg- 
lect public  duties  for  the  pursuit  of  private  aggrandizement." 

I  then  spoke  in  appreciative  terms  of  the  men  who,  in  the  be- 
ginning, favored  longer  continuance  in  the  Union  but  later 
turned  loyally  to  the  defense  of  the  State  and  the  South  when 
the  decisive  step  of  separation  had  been  taken  in  obedience  to 
the  judgment  and  legally  expressed  will  of  a  majority  of  their 
fellow  citizens.  Continuing,  I  said : 

"I  have  long  since  risen  to  the  magnitude  of  the  contest  in 
which  we  are  involved.  I  believe  that  war !  war  !  war !  should  be 
our  all-absorbing  business  until  we  have  conquered  our  inde- 
pendence; and  while  I  would  confine  myself,  and  wish  to  see 
all  in  authority  keep  themselves,  within  the  limits  of  the  Con- 
stitution, I  would  have  legislators,  governors,  judges,  and  people 
feel  that  it  is  imperative  on  them  to  make  laws  and  execute 
them,  whereby  that  Constitution,  our  property,  our  freedom, 


524  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


will  be  preserved.  I  have  felt  that  it  was  no  time  'to  fiddle  while 
Rome  was  burning/  I  have  felt  that  these  were  not  times  in 
which  to  be  over-punctillious,  letting  the  cause  of  the  country 
perhaps  suffer  whilst  discussing  points  of  military  usage  or 
etiquette. 

"When  I  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  my  duties,  I  deter- 
mined to  cherish,  foster,  and  aid  the  Confederate  government 
in  the  prosecution  of  this  war  in  every  way  I  could  legitimately ; 
I  knew  the  people  so  desired — the  Legislature  so  indicated.  I 
resolved  it  should  never  be  said  that  I  held  back  men  or  means 
as  long  as  I  could  control  and  furnish  either  in  aid  of  the  war. 
I  am  proud  of  the  conviction  that,  during  my  administration,  I 
have  furnished  more  men  than  have  been  called  for." 

After  stating  that  Texas,  when  called  upon,  would  in  my 
opinion  be  able  to  furnish  still  further  troops,  if  proper  meas- 
ures were  taken  in  advance  looking  to  that  end,  I  reminded  the 
Legislature  of  the  obligation  that  rested  upon  it  to  enact  effec- 
tive laws  to  put  every  available  man  in  the  service ;  do  away  with 
all  exemptions;  provide  penalties  for  desertion;  force  aliens  to 
serve  for  home  defense  or  leave  the  country;  punish  disloyalty; 
confiscate  the  property  of  all  who  had  left  or  might  thereafter 
leave  to  avoid  service ;  limit  the  rates  of  profits  on  merchandise 
and  the  price  of  articles  of  prime  necessity,  and  impress  the 
goods  of  all  extortioners,  monopolizers,  and  engrossers,  when 
needed  for  public  purposes  or  the  support  of  soldiers'  families. 

I  urged  the  ladies  to  continue  in  their  good  work  of  encourag- 
ing our  soldiers  by  word  and  deed.  I  stated  that  I  severed  my 
official  connections  at  the  capitol  with  regret,  and  that  in  doing 
so  I  desired  to  pay  a  public  and  just  tribute  to  the  fidelity  and 
capacity  of  my  associates. 

In  referring  to  the  severance  of  social  ties,  I  said :  "I  can 
but  admit  that  I  do  regret  to  give  up  many  pleasant  associations 
connected  with  my  temporary  sojourn  at  the  capital.  With  all 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  resting  upon  me,  my  time  has  been 
agreeably  spent.  Kindness  has  never  been  more  universally  ex- 
tended in  any  place,  or  in  any  community,  than  has  been  be- 
stowed upon  me  and  mine  by  the  people  of  Austin.  So  long  as 
memory  lasts,  the  friendships,  attachments,  and  associations 
formed  here  will  cling  to  me  and  mine  with  pride  and  pleasure. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  525 


and  in  my  future  life  I  shall  endeavor  to  so  carry  myself,  in 
whatever  position  I  may  be  placed,  as  never  to  forfeit  the  friend- 
ship and  esteem  of.  those  who  have  so  confided  in  and  treated  me." 

I  truthfully  declared  that  I  retired  from  office  with  something 
to  be  prized  better  even  than  the  approval  of  my  constituents, — 
the  consciousness  of  having  faithfully,  honestly,  and  impartially 
discharged  my  duty. 

In  concluding,  I  announced  that  it  was  my  intention  to  con- 
tinue in  the  service  of  the  country  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

The  evening  of  the  day,  November  5,  1863,  that  my  term 
as  Governor  of  the  State  expired,  I  surprised  my  friends  by  ap- 
pearing at  the  inaugural  ball  of  Governor  Murrah  in  the  uni- 
form of  an  officer  of  the  Confederate  army.  I  had  received  the 
appointment  of  assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  from  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith,  commanding  the 
Trans-Mississippi  Department;  the  appointment  to  take  effect 
November  5,  1863.  In  notifying  me  of  my  appointment,  General 
Smith  wrote  me,  under  date  of  October  22,  1863,  from  Shreve- 
port,  La. : 

"I  enclose  you  an  appointment  as  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  ad- 
jutant-general's department.  This  is  the  highest  appointment 
that  has  ever  been  made  in  any  of  the  staff  corps  of  the  pro- 
visional army. 

"In  enclosing  this  appointment,  let  me  thank  you  for  the 
hearty  co-operation  you  have  ever  given,  and  for  the  zeal  and 
self-sacrificing  patriotism  you  have  displayed  in  the  true  interest 
of  the  Confederacy,  while  exercising  the  functions  of  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  your  State/' 

My  appointment  was  approved  by  the  President  and  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate,  March  16,  1864. 

In  retiring  from  the  governorship,  I  did  so  with  the  conscious- 
ness of  having  performed  my  duty  fully.  With  all  my  energy, 
I  worked  at  the  diversified  duties  of  my  office :  The  frontier  de- 
fense, as  if  the  safety  of  my  scalp  depended  upon  success;  the 
penitentiary,  as  if  I  were  to  be  sent  there  if  its  manufactories 
were  not  made  useful  to  the  fullest  extent;  the  organization  of 
troops,  as  if  I  expected  to  march  at  their  head  for  military  glory ; 
the  comfort  of  the  families  of  soldiers,  as  if  they  were  all  person- 
ally my  friends ;  the  protection  of  the  coast,  until  we  had  a 
manufactory  for  heavy  ordnance  and  the  State  owned  the  Bayou 


526  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


City,  that  did  good  service  in  our  waters;  the  distilleries,  with 
as  much  enthusiasm  as  a  prohibitionist  (that  we  might  have 
more  and  cheaper  bread,  and  better  disciplined  soldiers).  I 
gave  attention  to  the  home  arrangements  for  women  to  weave 
and  spin  (procuring  cards  and  thread  to  make  clothes  for  their 
husbands  and  children)  ;  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick  in  hospitals, 
as  well  as  our  soldiers  in  the  field.  Nor  did  I  overlook  thie 
blind,  deaf  and  dumb,  and  insane  institutions,  though,  of  course, 
they  were  not  supported  as  in  peaceful  times.  In  every  respect, 
military  as  well  as  civil,  I  duly  considered  the  importance  of 
economy  in  the  expenditure  of  all  public  funds. 

As  soon  as  the  control  of  the  Mississippi  was  lost  to  us,  all 
the  energy  I  possessed,  all  the  arguments  I  could  advance,  all  the 
influences  I  could  bring  to  bear  were  exerted  to  solidify  the 
States  west  of  that  river  in  an  earnest  and  determined  adherence 
to  the  cause  of  the  entire  South.  My  whole  heart  and  soul  in- 
tent upon  the  successful  termination  of  her  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence, I  was  no  stickler  for  any  particular  plan,  stood  not 
foolishly  upon  my  dignity,  or  for  that  of  any  other  person.  I  was 
not  squeamish84  how  affairs  made  progress  by  this  plan,  or  by 
that,  if  they  were  honorable.  I  only  wished  them  to  move  onward 
to  victory  for  the  Confederacy. 

I  was  on  friendly  terms  with  all  of  the  commanders  of  Texas 
and  of  the  department  of  the  Trans-Mississippi,  and  conferred 
freely  with  them,  and,  asked  or  unasked,  advised  as  I  thought 
best  for  the  public  good.  If  they  called  for  men,  I  got  them; 
if  for  anything  else  that  the  State  could  furnish,  they  were 
welcome  to  have  it. 

And  though  we  were  defeated  and  had  to  go  through  the  ordeal 
of  reconstruction,  and  while  I  am  content  with  the  issue  of 
events,  more  especially  so  as  the  Democratic  party  is  in  control 
of  the  South,  and  its  liberties  are  therefore  seciire,  I  look  back 
upon  the  past  with  pride,  and  not  regret,  for  its  story,  rightly 
told,  will  challenge  the  admiration  of  mankind  as  long  as  civic 

84  There  was  nothing  that  showed  Governor  Lubbock's  singleness  of 
purpose  in  his  devotion  to  the  public  interest  more  clearly  than  his 
hearty  acquiescence  in  all  measures  tending  to  this  end  without  raising 
captious  objections  or  constitutional  questions.  His  motto  was  to  win 
our  independence  first  and  the  hair  splitting  legal  quibbles  could  be  set- 
tled afterwards. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  527 


virtue  and  Spartan  valor  shall  find  admirers  upon  the  earth,  and 
a  single  worshiper  shall  bend  before  the  shrine  of  constitu- 
tional liberty. 

The  struggle  on  the  part  of  the  Southern  people  was  a  right- 
eous one,  and  bravely  and  grandly  made.  As  a  participant  in  it 
I  sought  to  do  my  full  duty.  My  recollection  of  its  incidents, 
and  of  the  heroes,  statesmen,  patriots,  and  soldiers  who  moved 
amid  its  stormy,  shifting,  and  trying  scenes,  are  treasured  as 
the  holiest  memories  that  remain  with  me  to  stir  the  pulses  of 
my  heart  and  cheer  the  closing  hours  of  my  declining  life.  The 
blood,  the  heart,  the  brain  of  the  grand  old  Confederate  host 
that  made  such  a  heroic  struggle  for  their  States'  rights  in  the 
sixties,  is  the  heritage  of  their  descendants,  who  will,  I  trust, 
make  the  South,  if  not  like  the  Old  South  in  manner,  like  it  in 
spirit — brave,  noble,  and  honestlv  intelligent. 


528  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTEE  TWENTY-EIGHT. 

Banks'  Expedition  to  the  Rio  Grande  —  Colonels  Haynes  and  Davis  and 
Governor  Hamilton  —  My  Assignment  to  Duty  on  Magruder's  Staff  — 
Our  Need  of  Arms  —  Confronting  the  Enemy  on  Matagorda  Bay  — 
Baptism  of  Fire  —  No  French  Intervention  —  Change  of  Base  by  the 
Enemy. 

The  Yankees,  driven  from  Galveston  and  foiled  at  Sabine 
Pass,  fitted  out  an  expedition  under  General  Dana  to  proceed  to 
the  Rio  Grande  for  the  purpose  of  invading  Texas  from  the  west. 
After  a  stormy  passage  of  a  week's  duration,  the  fleet,  with  the 
Thirteenth  army  corps,  arrived  off  Brazos  Santiago  in  bad  plight. 

On  landing,  General  Banks,  who  accompanied  the  expedition, 
sent  the  following  dispatch  to  General  Halleck  and  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States:  "The  flag  of  the  Union  floated 
over  Texas  to-day  (November  2,  1863)  at  meridian  precisely." 
This  declaration  was  intended  to  make  known  to  the  world  that 
Union  troops  were  on  the  soil  for  the  purpose  of  subjugating 
Texas,  and  was  in  the  nature  of  notice  served  on  the  French  to 
keep  hands  off.  Frank  Gildart,  a  Texan  refugee  who  de- 
serted to  us  immediately  after  landing,  reported  that  the  Yan- 
kees had  lost  on  the  trip  three  steamboats,  four  schooners,  all 
their  artillery  except  two  six-pounders,  and  all  their  horses  ex- 
cept about  100,  but  had  preserved  and  brought  in  with  them  all 
their  ammunition.  There  was  other  and  corroborative  evidence 
that  the  voyage  had  been  disastrous.  Banks  subsequently  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  he  could  not  have  effected  a  landing  if 
as  determined  resistance  had  been  offered  as  that  encountered 
at  Sabine  Pass.  He  met  with  no  opposition  at  Brazos  Santiago. 

On  the  enemy's  advance  to  Brownsville  General  Bee  evacuated 
that  post  and  fell  back  to  the  Confederate  line  of  frontier  de- 
fense, carrying  with  him  an  immense  quantity  of  government 
stores. 

With  Dana's  expedition  were  the  regiments  of  Colonels 
Haynes  and  E.  J.  Davis,  about  750  men  all  told.  Haynes' 
regiment  was  known  as  the  "Mustangs."  These  officers  expected 
to  fill  up  their  skeleton  regiments  to  their  maximum  strength 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  529 


with  Texan  renegades,  but  in  this  anticipation  were  somewhat 
disappointed,  as  this  class  as  a  rule  were  in  extremely  destitute 
circumstances,  or  burdened  with  the  care  of  families,  and  did 
not  care  to  enlist  in  the  army.  A.  J.  Hamilton,  who  had  re- 
mained in  New  Orleans  till  advised  of  the  Federal  occupation 
of  Brownsville,  repaired  promptly  to  army  headquarters  on  the 
Rio  Grande.  He  had  been,  on  the  intercession  of  Governor  Gil- 
more,  of  New  Hampshire,  reappointed  by  President  Lincoln  mil- 
itary governor  of  Texas,  and  he  proposed  at  once  to  assume  the 
functions  of  his  office.  On  his  demand  the  Governor  of  the 
State  of  Tamaulipas  extradited  one  of  the  Confederate  Texans 
who  had  abducted  from  Mexican  soil  and  executed  one  Captain 
Montgomery,  claiming  to  belong  to  the  United  States  army; 
but  for  want  of  civil  tribunals  to  try  the  case  the  prisoner  was 
turned  over  to  the  military  authorities  for  final  disposition. 
Hamilton's  bull-headedness  soon  made  trouble  with  the  Mexican 
authorities  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  the  ridiculous  farce  of  a  gov- 
ernment possessing  no  power  outside  the  range  of  Federal  guns 
came  to  an  untimely  (or  rather  timely)  end,  "unwept,  un- 
honored,  and  unsung." 

Banks'  plan  of  campaign  being  now  to  invade  Texas  from  the 
Rio  Grande,  his  ships  proceeded  rapidly  along  the  coast  east- 
ward, driving  inland  or  capturing  small  Texan  garrisons.  Point 
Isabel  and  Corpus  Christi  were  occupied,  the  works  at  Aransas 
Pass  captured  with  about  100  prisoners,  and  Fort  Esperanza, 
commanding  Pass  Cavallo,  the  entrance  to  Matagorda  Bay, 
taken,  the  garrison  escaping.  Gen.  C.  C.  Washburne  commanded 
a  division  of  6000  veterans,  operating  in  the  country  about  Mat- 
agorda Bay. 

On  the  advance  of  the  Yankees  General  Magruder  moved  his 
army  westward  to  meet  them.  After  making  a  tour  of  inspec- 
tion of  his  lines  with  his  staff  as  far  westward  as  Victoria,  he  re- 
turned and  established  his  temporary  headquarters  at  Rugely's 
plantation,  on  the  San  Bernard.  It  was  here,  early  in  Decem- 
ber, that  I  found  General  Magruder  and  took  my  place  on  his 
staff  as  assistant  adjutant-general  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant- 
colonel. 

The  general  had  already,  by  proclamation,  disclaimed  any  in- 
34 


530  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tention  of  abandoning  the  western85  country,  and  boasted  of  his 
strong  works  near  San  Antonio  and  Austin,  lately  constructed  by 
impressed  slaves,  and  proposed  to  dispute  every  inch  of  ground 
with  the  invader.  The  enemy  took  Magruder  at  his  word,  and 
soon  slowed  up  to  a  dead  halt  in  his  front.  In  apprehension  of 
the  worst,  Col.  Stephen  H.  Darden  was  ordered  to  destroy  the 
railroad  from  Indianola  to  Victoria,  and  thus  impede  the  advance 
of  the  enemy  inland.  The  circumstance  that  constrained  us  in 
our  operation  more  than  any  other  was  the  lack  of  arms.  To  se- 
cure 16,000  Enfield  rifles  just  released  from  seizure  (by  the 
French  government)  at  Vera  Cruz,  General  Magruder  made  an 
earnest  appeal  to  the  Cotton  Bureau  through  Col.  W.  J.  Hutch- 
ins,  saying :  "These  arms  from  Vera  Cruz,  if  we  get  them  at  all, 
will  come  in  lots  of  about  1000.  They  may  cost  as  high  as  $60 
each ;  but  cost  what  they  may,  we  must  have  them.  The  State  of 
Texas  and  the  whole  Trans-Mississippi  Department  are  in  the 
greatest  peril. 

"Every  other  interest  must  yield  to  this  paramount  necessity. 
.  .  .  There  must  be  no  delay  and  no  obstacle  of  any  nature 
interposed  to  protract  or  endanger  the  accomplishment  of  this 
purpose.  At  the  present  price  of  cotton  and  present  value  of  our 
currency,  it  will  require  an  immense  amount  of  cotton  to  pay 
for  the  arms.  I  presume  the  price  of  cotton  in  specie  at  Hous- 
ton is  about  4  cents  per  pound ;  in  our  currency,  about  40  cents. 
.  .  .  In  strict  confidence,  all  that  portion  of  our  troops  which 
are  armed  at  all  are  badly  armed,  and  fully  one-fourth  of  the 
army  are  entirely  without  arms." 

To  another  agent  of  the  Cotton  Bureau,  James  Sorley,  of 
Houston,  he  wrote,  December  21st:  "On  the  subject  of  arms, 
I  must  say  that  the  safety  of  the  country  demands  them  at  any 
sacrifice,  and  that  no  time  is  to  be  lost.  I  have  thousands  of  men 
entirely  unarmed.  .  .  So  great  is  the  need,  that  all  the  cot- 
ton in  Texas  should  speedily  be  sold  (if  possible)  by  the  gov- 
ernment for  30,000  stand  of  arms  and  their  appropriate  am- 
munition. We  can  exist  without  other  things,  but  can  not  with- 
out arms." 

A  few  small  lots  of  arms  were  procured  at  intervals,  but  noth- 

8S  These  works  at  Austin  on  the  heights  south  of  the  river  remained 
undisturbed  for  years,  as  reminders  of  the  war. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  531 


ing  like  enough  to  supply  our  needs,  and  what  we  did  have  were 
of  inferior  quality.  This  irremediable  condition  ultimately 
proved  fatal  to  our  cause.  The  Yankees  in  our  front  were  well 
supplied  with  arms  and  everything  else  necessary  for  campaign- 
ing, and  outnumbered  us  more  than  two  to  one. 

Under  these  untoward  circumstances  demoralization  spread 
rapidly  in  the  Confederate  ranks,  followed  by  desertions;  but 
a  prompt  check  was  put  to  desertions  by  the  enforcement  of 
measures  adopted  for  that  purpose.86 

General  Magruder  was  very  active  in  inspecting  our  lines 
and  reconnoitering  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  With  his  staff, 
and  sometimes  a  small  escort,  he  was  almost  every  day  in  the 
saddle,  visiting  our  outposts  to  ascertain  the  strength  of  our 
positions  and  the  spirit  of  the  troops.  In  this  way,  early  in 
December,  we  traversed  the  Old  Caney  country,  stopping  awhile 
at  Hawkins'  plantation  and  other  hospitable  places,  and  inspect- 
ing the  works  on  the  San  Bernard.  In  returning  we  visited  Ve- 
lasco,  everywhere  finding  along  the  front  our  gallant  boys  ready 
and  eager  for  combat.  The  Yankees  were  quiet,  perhaps  await- 
ing reinforcements.  Consequently  there  was  little  picket  fight- 
ing. Notwithstanding  this  lull,  we  kept  strictly -on  the  qui  vive, 
holding  ourselves  in  readiness  to  move  at  the  word  of  com- 
mand.87 

Never,  in  the  pressure  of  civil  business,  had  I  neglected,  when 
unavoidably  absent,  to  write  to  Mrs.  Lubbock;  nor  did  I  now 
omit  to  do  so  amid  the  exacting  duties  of  the  camp.  Our  mar- 
ried life,  extending  over  nearly  thirty  years,  had  been  a  happy 
one.  Eealizing  her  anxiety,  I  wrote  quite  frequently  such  letters 

86  "Capture  them"  [i.  e.  deserters]  ordered  Magruder,    "and  bring 
them  with  their  hands  bound  to  these  headquarters.     Shoot  them  down 
to  a  man  should  they  resist  or  refuse  to  surrender,  or  attempt  to  make 
their  escape  after  being  captured." 

87  "  Sioux,"  the  war  correspondent  of  the  Galveston  News,  under  date 
of  December  12,  1863,  in  the  saddle,  Matagorda  County,  thus  describes 
the  situation:     "Everything  is  in  the  dark  yet  as  to  the  plans  of  the 
enemy.     .     .     .     We  have  seen  many  of  the  more  distinguished  Texans 
now  in  the  field.      .      .      .      We  have  met  Lieut. -Col.  Frank  Lubbock, 
just  out  of  the  gubernatorial  chair.     He  is  in  full  uniform  and  I  expect 
to  see  him  do  wonders  when  he  meets  the  enemy,  and  if  he  can  win  as 
many  laurels  in  the  field  as  in  the  ranks  of  civil  life,  as  displayed  in 
piloting  Texas,  he  will  do  more  than  his  friends  expect  of  him." — ED. 


532  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  cheer  and  hope  as  I  could  under  the  circumstances  of  our  en- 
forced separation. 

With  their  increasing  numbers,  the  Yankees  a  few  weeks  later 
in  January  became  more  active,  and  from  their  ships  shelled  at 
various  times  our  works  at  the  mouths  of  the  Caney,  San  Ber- 
nard, and  Brazos  rivers.  We  managed,  however,  to  hold  our 
own  at  these  places,  and  to  drive  off  their  ships,  with  some  dam- 
age, doubtless.  Our  river  fleet,  under  Commodore  Leon  Smith, 
proved  quite  serviceable  in  this  emergency,  furnishing  transpor- 
tation, making  short  cruises  along  the  coast,  and  giving  quick 
notice  of  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  The  Yankees  in  our 
immediate  front  and  down  the  coast  were  estimated  at  25,000 
men,  while  our  army,  including  Tom  Green's  division,  called 
in  from  Louisiana,  and  the  State  militia,  did  not  exceed  10,000 
men.  But  these  Confederate  troops  were  nearly  all  veterans, 
and  second  to  none  in  fighting  qualities ;  especially  was  this  true 
of  Green's  command,  comprising  the  old  Sibley  brigade,  under 
Col.  W.  P.  Hardeman,  and  the  brigade  of  Gen.  J.  P.  Major. 
Not  daring  to  attack  our  lines  in  force,  the  Yankees  contented 
themselves  with  occasional  shelling  of  our  exposed  works  and 
petty  depredations  along  the  coast. 

Our  service  on  the  coast  during  the  latter  part  of  the  winter  of 
1863-4  was  at  times  very  hard  owing  to  the  severely  cold  weather. 
E.  P.  Turner,  A.  A.  G.,  in  a  letter  to  headquarters  respecting  a 
bridge  at  Hinkle's  ferry  that  Captain  Howe  with  his  engineer 
troop  was  engaged  in  constructing,  said  in  reference  to  the 
weather:  "The  health  of  the  troops,  considering  the  intensity 
of  the  cold,  continues  good;  for  example,  Colonel  De  Bray  in- 
formed me  to-day  that  not  100  of  his  brigade  were  unfit  for  ser- 
vice on  account  of  sickness.  The  animals,  also,  have  stood  the 
rigor  of  the  weather  better  than  we  imagined." 

We  lost  quite  a  number  of  our  gallant  young  soldiers  who  were 
frozen  to  death88  in  an  attempt  to  make  an  attack  upon  a  de- 
tachment of  the  enemy  that  had  landed  upon  our  coast  from 
the  blockading  squadron.  The  same  night  I  made  a  very  nar- 

8 'Fourteen.  Their  clothing  became  saturated  with  water.  Not  be- 
ing able  to  secure  fuel,  or  to  reach  a  fire,  they  were  frozen  to  death  and 
their  bodies  found  by  a  searching  party  sent  in  quest  of  them  next 
morning. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  533 


row  escape  on  a  trip  down  Galveston  beach.  I  was  ordered  to 
go  down  the  island  on  a  reconnoissance ;  the  night  became  very 
cold — for  that  section  extremely  cold.  I  was  in  my  saddle  un- 
til near  daylight,  when  I  rode  up  to  Colonel  Buchel's  camp,  al- 
most in  a  lifeless  condition.  I  was  lifted  from  my  horse  and 
placed  in  the  musicians'  tent  between  the  warm  blankets  of  a 
bed  just  vacated,  where  I  went  to  sleep.  Awaking  about  noon, 
quite  revived,  I  was  supplied  with  good  strong  coffee  and  break- 
fast. I  then  proceeded  to  headquarters.  Had  I  not  reached 
this  refuge  as  soon  as  I  did  I  would  have  lost  my  life. 

The  only  time  I  was  under  fire  during  this  campaign  was  on 
an  occasion  when  I  had  gone  to  the  Confederate  earthworks  at 
the  mouth  of  the  San  Bernard  under  orders  from  General  Ma- 
gruder,  to  learn  the  facts  as  to  the  reported  appearance  of  Fed- 
eral war  vessels  off  that  point.  When  near  there  I  turned  back 
a  crowd  of  stragglers  and  went  with  them  to  the  fort.  Soon 
after  our  arrival  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  upon  us  from  the  ships, 
the  shells  bursting  in  and  around  the  fort.  I  had  just  remarked 
to  the  men  that  there  was  no  danger,  when  a  shell  exploded  in 
our  midst,  knocking  over  one  of  them.  Our  men,  however,  re- 
plied with  spirit,  and  the  enemy,  if  he  meditated  a  landing, 
thought  better  of  it  and  finally  drew  off. 

The  Yankees  busied  themselves  in  making  fortifications  down 
the  coast,  especially  on  Matagorda  peninsula  and  near  Indianola. 
Their  next  form  of  activity  was  in  getting  out  of  Texas  early 
in  1864,  reducing  their  army  here  by  degrees.  The  Federal  gov- 
ernment had  not  found  the  easy  sailing  expected  in  Texas,  and 
a  change  of  policy  was  now  being  effected,  as  soon  became  ap- 
parent to  us. 

Baffled  in  the  west  as  he  had  been  in  the  east,  Banks  was 
next  to  invade  Texas  by  way  of  Red  River,  and  his  forces  on  our 
coast  soon  began  to  disappear.  The  Yankees  excused  their  de- 
feat by  saying  their  occupation  of  our  coast  was  not  so  much  a 
military  movement  as  it  was  a  political  measure  to  save  Texas 
from  being  plucked  away  from  the  Confederacy  by  France.  On 
the  assurance  from  Minister  Corwin,  in  Mexico,  that  the  French 
authorities  there  disclaimed  any  intention  of  interfering  in  our 
war  in  behalf  of  Texas,  President  Lincoln  removed  his  army 
from  the  Texan  gulf  region,  leaving  only  a  few  garrisons  on  the 
Rio  Grande. 


534  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  TWENTY-NINE. 

Race  of  Armies  for  Red  River  —  Field  Transportation  —  Transferred  to 
Gen.  Tom  Green's  Staff — Travel  with  Servant  and  Pack  Mule  to  the 
Front  —  On  Death  of  General  Green  Assigned  to  Duty  on  General 
Wharton's  Staff— Mansfield  —  Pleasant  Hill  —  Ya'nkee  Retreat  — 
Monett's  Ferry  —  Alexandria  —  Mansura  —  Norwood — •Horrible  Bar- 
barities of  the  Enemy  —  End  of  Campaign  —  Return  Home  with  Gen- 
eral Wharton  —  Again  at  the  Front  in  Louisiana. 

The  Yankee  plan  of  invasion  being  known,  there  was  a  race 
for  Red  River.  The  Yankees,  however,  proceeding  by  water, 
beat  us  to  the  new  theater  of  war  in  Louisiana. 

Unfortunately,  about  this  time  a  dispute  arose  between  Gov- 
ernor Murrah  and  General  Magruder  as  to  the  proper  construc- 
tion of  the  last  conscription  law  of  Congress.  Hurrah's  refusal 
to  co-operate  with  Magruder  made  the  act  a  dead  letter  in  Texas. 
Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith  sustained  Magruder  and  remonstrated 
with  the  Governor,  but  In  vain.  Finally  Smith  appealed  to  Pres- 
ident Davis  for  a  decision  of  the  matter,  sending  him  all  the 
correspondence. 

On  the  departure  of  the  Yankees,  Magruder  sent  every  avail- 
able soldier  that  could  be  spared  to  Louisiana.  It  was  a  long, 
tedious  march  of  hundreds  of  miles  through  a  country  mostly 
destitute  of  supplies.  But  there  was  no  help  for  it;  and  early 
in  March  our  brave  fellows,  horse,  foot,  and  artillery,  set  out 
cheerily  on  the  great  march  to  meet  the  foe. 

In  the  organization  of  the  staff  the  previous  winter  at  Camp 
Wharton  I  was  made,  in  addition  to  my  office  as  assistant  ad- 
jutant-general in  the  field,  inspector  of  field  transportation.  It 
was  now  my  pressing  duty  to  arrange  the  transportation  for  the 
army  to  Louisiana.  Our  forces  from  the  coast,  Terrell's  regi- 
ment from  Tyler,  and  all  other  spare  troops  from  Texas,  were 
everywhere  hurrying  eastward  to  oppose  the  invader  ascending 
Red  River  valley  in  the  flush  of  expected  triumph.  At  the 
same  time  Steele,  with  15,000  men  and  twenty-five  pieces  of 
artillery,  was  marching  from  Little  Rock  on  Shreveport.  In  his 
pathway  stood  General  Price  with  a  force  of  less  than  10,000 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  535 


men,  though  reinforced  by  Maxey's  two  brigades  from  the  In- 
dian Territory. 

I  attended,  on  horseback,  the  march  of  the  various  regiments 
to  Louisiana,  ascertained  the  character  of  transportation,  and 
apportioned  the  wagons  according  to  their  respective  needs,  un- 
der instructions.  In  this  way  I  visited  the  commands  of  Buchel^ 
De  Bray,  Terrell,  Pyron,  Woods,  Green,  Likens,  Bagby,  Majors, 
and  Hardeman,  and  mingled  more  or  less  with  the  men  in  social 
talk.  I  was  much  gratified  to  observe  their  indomitable  will  and 
determination  to  drive  the  invader  irom  our  borders.  In  a  word, 
the  morale  of  the  Texan  troops  in  1864  was  most  excellent. 

My  staff  service  while  with  General  Magruder  was  agreeable 
and  instructive.  He  had  about  him  a  bright,  active  corps  of 
young  officers,  several  of  them  having  served  with  him  in  Vir- 
ginia in  the  beginning  of  the  war,  where  he  made  a  brilliant 
record,  as  he  had  done  in  1846-7  in  the  war  between  Mexico  and 
the  United  States. 

Having  provided  wagons  and  discharged  the  other  duties  as- 
signed me  in  connection  with  the  movement  of  Texas  troops  to 
Louisiana,  I  had  no  desire  to  remain  in  Texas  to  discharge  quasi- 
civil  duties.  Our  army  was  then  in  daily  conflict  with  Banks  in 
Louisiana,  and  as  I  had  become  a  soldier  I  desired  service  in 
the  field.  I  therefore  applied  to  General  Magruder  and  re- 
ceived permission  to  report  to  Gen.  Tom  Green,  who  was  an 
oldtime  friend  of  mine,  and  had  said  that  he  would  with  pleas- 
ure find  service  for  me.  I  parted  with  General  Magruder  with 
mutual  regret.  He  remained  in  Texas  in  command  of  his  de- 
partment. I  had,  while  Governor,  many  opportunities  of  know- 
ing and  observing  his  ability  and  his  great  patriotism,  and  had 
learned  to  appreciate  his  services  to  Texas.  Our  relations  at 
that  time  were  of  the  most  cordial  character,  and  after  I  became 
a  subaltern  and  one  of  his  military  family,  I  found  in  him  a 
considerate,  as  well  as  active,  energetic,  and  fearless  commander. 
About  the  10th  of  April,  1864,  I  left  his  headquarters  to  join 
General  Green,  commanding  the  cavalry  then  operating  in  the 
army  of  the  western  district  of  Louisiana. 

I  stopped  at  Houston  to  see  my  wife.  After  this  slight  delay 
I  started  for  my  destination,  riding  my  well-trained  saddle- 
horse  "Shiloh,"  and  attended  by  my  servant  Eli,  mounted  on  a 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


substantial  pony  and  leading  "Gim  Crack,"  another  of  my  horses, 
to  serve  me  as  an  extra  mount.  I  carried  along  with  me,  on  a 
pack  mule,  such  articles  as  would  prove  most  useful  in  what  I 
anticipated  would  be  a  long  and  arduous  campaign,  and  an 
abundant  supply  of  provisions.  The  latter  piece  of  foresight 
stood  me  in  good  stead.  The  distance  to  be  traversed  in  reaching 
headquarters  in  Louisiana  exceeded  300  miles.  Heavy  rains  had 
fallen,  the  muddy  roads  were  cut  up  all  the  way  by  the  passage 
of  wagon  trains,  and  part  of  the  region  I  had  to  pass  through 
was  stripped  of  food  and  forage  by  the  march  and  countermarch 
of  armies.  But  my  pack  mule  with  supplies  rendered  me  inde- 
pendent, and  I  camped  out  as  a  matter  of  preference.  My  serv- 
ant was  an  excellent  cook,  and  he  made  everything  comfortable 
around  the  campfire,  even  to  the  spreading  of  my  blankets  on 
the  ground  for  a  bed. 

The  country  along  the  roads  wore  an  air  of  desolation.  Old 
men,  boys,  women,  children,  and  a  few  cripples  were  occasionally 
met  with,  but  no  able-bodied  men. 

Crossing  the  Sabine  at  Clapp's  ferry,  I  proceeded  to  Shreve- 
port,  La.  The  report  of  the  death  of  General  Green  (killed  at 
Blair's  Landing  by  a  cannon  shot)  met  me  before  I  reached  that 
place,  and  was  confirmed  on  my  arrival  there  by  General  Tay- 
lor, and  made  me  sad  indeed.  I  had  long  known  Green,  and 
loved  him  like  a  brother. 

General  Taylor,  in  a  touching  order  issued  upon  the  death  of 
General  Green,  said :  "Throughout  broad  Texas,  throughout 
desolated  Louisiana,  mourning  saddens  every  heart."  More  than 
this,  it  might  be  added,  the  whole  Southland  mourned  the  loss 
of  this  great  Texan. 

Ben  McCulloch  and  Tom  Green  were  gunner-boys  for  the 
"Twin  Sisters"  at  San  Jacinto.  The  first  named  fell  at  Elk- 
horn,  in  1862.  And  now  the  gallant  Green  had  given  up  his  life 
for  Texas. 

Both  were  incomparable  fighters  in  all  the  wars  of  Texas. 
Little  cared  they  for  the  intricacies  of  politics;  but  they  loved 
Texas  as  children  love  their  mothers,  and  when  danger  threat- 
ened their  swords  were  always  unsheathed  for  her  defense,  re- 
gardless of  the  merits  of  the  controversy,  and  regardless  of  the 
character  of  the  foe,  whether  Indian,  Mexican,  or  Yankee.  They 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  537 


represented  the  highest  ideal  of  Southern  patriotism,  and  were 
in  their  bearing,  character,  and  lives  superb  types  of  the  South- 
ern soldier. 

The  death  of  General  Green  left  me  without  a  place,  and  I 
had  to  be  reassigned.  General  Taylor  and  I  were  old  acquain- 
tances; our  wives  were  cousins.  He  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome 
to  the  army,  assuring  me  that  every  available  man  was  needed, 
as  there  was  fighting  to  be  done  every  day. 

General  Taylor  was  in  command  in  Louisiana,  Gen.  E.  Kirby 
Smith  having  gone  with  two  divisions  of  infantry  to  reinforce 
Price  and  force  Steele  (shut  up  in  Camden)  to  surrender. 

The  principal  incidents  of  the  campaign  that  had  transpired 
up  to  this  time  were  the  checking  of  Banks'  onward  march,  when 
he  had  reached  a  point  within  twenty  miles  of  the  Texas  line, 
by  the  battles  of  Mansfield  and  Pleasant  Hill. 

Near  Mansfield,  on  Sunday,  April  8th,  General  Taylor,  with- 
out waiting  for  orders,  surprised  the  Yankees  in  their  disorderly 
march  by  a  furious  attack,  which  resulted  in  another  Bull  Eun 
stampede.  The  battle  occurred  on  the  day  set  apart  for  fasting 
and  prayer  by  President  Davis. 

Banks'  bad  generalship  had  exposed  his  army  to  destruction, 
and  Taylor,  taking  advantage  of  it,  with  9000  ill-equipped  Con- 
federates, beat  in  detail  double  his  number  of  the  best  troops  in 
the  Yankee  army,  always  managing  to  overwhelm  the  enemy 
with  superior  forces  at  every  contested  point. 

The  Yankees  lost  at  Mansfield  2500  prisoners,  250  army 
wagons  well  laden  with  military  supplies,  and  twenty  pieces  of 
artillery,  and  fell  back  to  Pleasant  Hill  on  their  way  to  Red 
River.  The  next  day  our  army  (reinforced  by  Churchill's  divi- 
sion), 13,000  strong  and  flushed  with  victory,  attacked  Banks' 
whole  army,  and  a  desperate  conflict  ensued.  Perhaps  it  would 
have  been  considered  a  drawn  battle  had  not  the  Yankees,  under 
the  cover  of  night,  resumed  their  disorderly  retreat,  leaving  on 
the  field  their  uncared  for  wounded  and  unburied  dead.  Our 
losses  in  both  battles  amounted  to  about  2500  men,  while  the 
Yankee  losses  were  probably  three  times  that  number. 

In  a  day  or  two  after  I  reached  headquarters,  Ma j. -Gen.  John 
A.  Wharton,  who  had  gained  reputation  as  a  commander  of  cav- 
alry in  the  Army  of  Tennessee,  arrived  from  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. He  was  on  leave  of  absence,  to  recuperate  his  broken 


538 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


health  at  his  home  in  Texas.  I  was  just  from  home,  in  health, 
and  with  good  camp  supplies,  while  he  was  broken  down  and 
poorly  provided  with  camp  necessaries.  I  divided  my  blankets 
with  him,  and  was  with  him  during  the  next  month's  active  cam- 
paign. 

General  Wharton  had  been  selected  by  General  Taylor  at 
Shrevcport  to  succeed  Green  in  the  command  of  the  cavalry, 
though  his  formal  appointment  was  not  made  till  a  few  days 


GEN.  JOHN  A.  WHARTON,  C  8.A. 

later.  He  immediately  offered  me  a  position  on  his  staff  as 
assistant  adjutant-general,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel, 
which  I  gladly  accepted.*" 

General  Taylor  and  staff,  and  Wharton  and  myself,  attended 
by  a  small  escort,  set  out  from  Shreveport  on  the  19th  for  the 
army,  near  Grand  Kcore.  Our  route  lay  for  the  most  part 
along  a  dismal  sandy  road,  through  a  country  thoroughly  rav- 


9  Next  to  Tom  Green.  Wharton  was  thought  to  be  the  ablest  cavalry 
comman<}f>r  in  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  539 


aged  by  Banks'  demoralized  retreating  army.  When  in  camp 
near  the  Pleasant  Hill  battleground,  Wharton  received  his  for- 
mal appointment  as  commander  of  all  the  cavalry  in  Louisiana, 
and  we  went  on  our  way  rejoicing.  Three  days'  continuous  ride 
brought  us  all  to  General  Polignac's  camp,  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  enemy.  Banks  made  a  demonstration  on  our  lines  the  even- 
ing of  our  arrival,  but  it  turned  out  to  be  only  a  feint  to  hide 
his  retreat.  That  night  he  withdrew  all  his  force,  about  15,000 
men,  to  the  west  side  of  Red  River,  at  Grand  Ecore,  and  burned 
a  vast  quantity  of  military  stores  there  before  continuing  his 
flight  at  dawn.  The  army  in  Louisiana  had  been  so  depleted  by 
General  Smith  for  the  Arkansas  campaign  that  it  did  not  now 
exceed  5000  men.90  Still,  something  could  be  done  to  harass 
and  damage  the  enemy,  and  no  time  was  to  be  lost. 

Steele's  Texas  brigade  of  cavalry  was  then  at  Polignac's  head- 
quarters, and  General  Wharton  put  himself  at  its  head,  and  we 
set  out  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  fleeing  enemy.  We  struck  the  Fed- 
eral rear  guard  heavily  at  Natchitoches,  and  drove  the  enemy 
continuously  till  night,  inflicting  severe  losses  and  taking 
many  prisoners.  I  had  received  my  baptism  of  fire  under  Ma- 
gruder,  but  this  all-day  fight  of  April  28,  1864,  was  my  first 
battle.  The  exciting  evolutions  on  the  field,  the  artillery  firing, 
alternating  with  volleys  of  musketry,  and  the  ebb  and  flow  of 
the  hostile  lines, — for  it  was  "Greek  meeting  Greek," — all  made 
an  ineffaceable  impression  on  my  memory.  Resuming  the  at- 
tack early  the  next  day  on  the  enemy's  rear,  we  drove  him  to 
Cloutierville,  where  he  made  a  stand ;  but  after  a  severe  fight,  fell 
back  several  miles  beyond  his  works.  Before  light  on  the  24th 
our  artillery  opened  fire  on  the  enemy's  camp.  Springing  to 
arms,  the  Yankees  fought  till  2  p.  m.,  when,  retiring,  they  crossed 
Cane  River  at  Monett's  ferry,  and  escaped  to  Alexandria.91  Po- 
lignac's division  got  up  in  time  to  engage  the  enemy's  rear  at 
Monett's. 

90  Considering  the  disparity  of  numbers  and  the  results  achieved,  this 
campaign  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  military  history. — ED. 

9 1  General  Taylor  officially  says:    "The  force  used  against  us  was  very 
great  and  of  all  arms,  and  it  is  difficult  to  estimate  the  importance  of 
the  service  rendered  by  Wharton,  Steele,  and  Parsons.     The  gallantry 
and  pluck  they  exhibited  in  fighting  such  odds  for  three  days  is  beyond 
praise. " 


540  LUBBOC1CS  MEMOIRS. 


General  Bee  had  been  holding  Monett's  ferry  with  four  bri- 
gades of  cavalry  (Bagby,  De  Bray,  Terrell,  and  Majors,  senior 
colonels  commanding)  and  four  batteries ;  but  after  a  desperate 
struggle  with  Banks'  main  army  for  a  day  or  more,  was  com- 
pelled to  give  way.  This  was  a  vital  point,  and  its  surrender 
irritated  General  Taylor  very  much  at  the  time.  Bee  was  after- 
wards vindicated,  and  General  Taylor,  when  informed  of  all  the 
circumstances,  made  the  proper  acknowledgments.  Monett's 
ferry  cost  the  Yankees  400  or  500  men  and  a  large  number  of 
wagons  with  supplies;  but  its  capture  made  their  escape  possi- 
ble. The  demoralized  enemy  in  their  retreat  left  no  houses  or 
fences,  stock  or  supplies,  behind  them.  Everything  of  any  possi- 
ble value  was  taken  or  destroyed.92  Our  prompt  advance  was 
all  that  saved  Natchitoches  and  Cloutierville  from  destruction, 
both  towns  having  been  fired  in  several  places  before  we  entered 
them.  Hoping  for  the  best,  our  brave  little  army  pressed  on  after 
the  vandals.  Wharton,  together  with  Bee  and  Steele,  on  the 
26th  attacked  the  enemy  in  the  valley  near  McXutt's  Hill,  and 
drove  him  with  considerable  loss  to  the  vicinity  of  Alexandria. 
The  next  day  Colonels  Likens  and  Harrison  attacked  four  gun- 
boats and  two  transports  on  the  river.  One  gunboat,  the  East- 
port,  struck  on  a  bar  and  was  blown  up  to  avoid  capture.  Fur- 
ther down  the  stream  another  gunboat  was  disabled  at  the 
mouth  of  Caney,  and  a  lucky  shot  from  our  battery  burst  the 
boiler  of  one  of  the  transports.  Besides  this,  the  main  dam- 
age to  the  enemy  that  day  was  the  killing  or  wounding  of  nearly 
300  men,  principally  negroes  stolen  from  the  plantations  above, 
and  some  valuable  army  stores  captured.  Our  loss  was  one 
killed  and  one  wounded.  The  other  transport,  with  all  on  board, 
was  captured  without  loss  the  next  day.  The  two  remaining 
gunboats  ran  past  our  battery  of  four  guns  at  the  mouth  of 
Canoy,  but  with  considerable  damage,  one  boat  suffering  a  loss 
of  fifteen  killed  and  wounded. 

It  was  a  continuous  fight  with  the  enemy  on  both  banks  of  the 
river,  and  a  fight  in  the  river  for  their  boats. 

About  the  last  of  April  Banks,  with  20,000  men,  was  cooped 

**  Smith's  corps  acted  worse  than  Banks'  generally  in  Louisiana. 
They  had  learned  from  General  Sherman,  their  commander,  that  "war 
is  hell,"  and  were  habituated  to  burning  and  plunder. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  541 


up  in  Alexandria,  and  Admiral  Porter  was  also  there  with  his 
magnificent  fleet  of  fifty  vessels  unable  to  get  over  the  falls  be- 
low the  town. 

Our  little  army  of  less  than  5000  men  on  the  outside  kept  the 
beaten  enemy  well  in  hand,  and  always  in  dread  of  surprise. 
The  campaign  was  growing  more  exciting.  There  was  a  pros- 
pect of  reinforcements  at  least  to  the  extent  of  Watkins'  di- 
vision of  2500  infantry,  and  Porter's  gunboat  fleet  appeared, 
in  that  event,  almost  a  sure  prize. 

General  Taylor,  dividing  his  small  force,  sent  out  detach- 
ments in  various  directions  to  harass  the  enemy  in  every  possible 
way.  Wharton  put  Steele  above  and  west  of  Alexandria,  Bagby 
on  the  Boeuf  road,  and  Majors  and  his  brigade  at  Davidge's 
ferry  on  Red  River,  twenty-five  miles  below.  With  these  new 
dispositions,  fighting  was  at  once  renewed  at  every  available 
point — the  Louisiana  general  Liddell,  at  Pineville,  on  the  north 
bank  of  Red  River ;  Bagby  on  the  Bayou  Robert  road,  and  Steele 
on  the  Rapides  road, — all  engaging  the  enemy  in  the  most  de- 
termined manner. 

General  Majors  had  the  most  brilliant  success  on  the  river 
helow,  capturing  and  sinking  on  the  1st  of  May  the  transport 
Emma;  he  captured  a  few  days  later  the  transport  City  Belle 
with  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Ohio  regiment  on  board. 
On  the  4th  the  gunboats  Covington  and  Signal,  eight  guns  each, 
convoying  the  transport  Warner,  tried  to  pass  Majors'  battery 
under  Captain  West.  The  Signal,  after  being  disabled,  sur- 
rendered with  the  transport  Warner,  but  the  crew  blew  up  the 
Covington  to  avoid  capture.  Our  four  guns  in  the  battery  were 
run  up  by  hand  close  to  the  river  bank,  and  won  the  victory  by 
close,  rapid,  and  well  directed  firing. 

Banks'  army  was  now  effectually  cut  off  from  communication 
with  the  Mississippi.  Every  boat  trying  to  ascend  Red  River 
had  been  foiled  by  our  battery  at  Davidge's  ferry,  and  things 
looked  blue  for  the  enemy.  Meanwhile,  the  Federals  at  Alexan- 
dria, were  working  to  devise  a  scheme  for  passing  their  fleet  over 
the  falls;  and  with  their  characteristic  energy  and  pluck  finally 
succeeded  by  means  of  a  dam  with  sand  bags,  compressing  the 
river  into  narrow  limits  and  deepening  the  channel  thereby.  The 
fleet,  or  the  best  part  of  it,  for  some  ships  were  destroyed,  passed 


>42  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


over  the  falls  on  the  43th  of  May;  Banks'  army,  after  burning 
Alexandria,  the  next  day  resumed  their  retreat  down  the  river. 
Our  little  force  disputed  every  inch  of  ground  with  the  enemy, 
but  his  immense  superiority  in  numbers  and  resources  made  suc- 
cessful resistance  impossible.  The  Federals  had  still  left  a  train 
of  more  than  300  wagons,  but  they  were  kept  closed  up  and  well 
guarded  with  cavalry.  The  Confederates  were  pushed  back  stead- 
ily by  weight  of  numbers  as  far  as  Mansura.  A  rapid  concentra- 
tion at  this  place  enabled  us  to  give  battle  with  some  chance  of 
success  against  the  over-confident  enemy,  marching  with  some 
disorder. 

The  town  of  Mansura  was  in  the  center  of  our  position.  Gen- 
erals Major  and  Bagby,  with  nineteen  pieces  of  artillery,  were  on 
our  right,  and  Polignac,  reinforced  by  De  Bray's  Texas  regi- 
ments, held  our  left  with  thirteen  pieces  of  artillery.  At  dawn 
the  enemy's  infantry  began  skirmishing  with  our  cavalry.  By 
sunrise  the  Federals,  about  16,000  strong-^-cavalry,  infantry,  and 
artillery — appeared,  advancing  cautiously  on  the  great  Avoyelles 
prairie.  Our  force  did  not  exceed  a  third  of  this.  But  the  dense 
masses  of  blue  coats  presented  a  fine  mark  for  our  batteries,  and, 
by  permission  of  the  chief  of  artillery,  I  touched  off  the  first  gun 
on  their  lines.  Halting,  the  Federals  placed  their  artillery  in 
position  and  opened  upon  us  a  furious  fire.  Pending  this  storm 
of  shot  and  shell,  I  galloped  with  orders  to  various  parts  of  our 
line,  one  for  Colonel  Hardeman  ("Old  Gotch")  to  reinforce  our 
hard-pressed  left  by  a  detachment  of  his  command.  He  did  not 
like  to  separate  his  command,  but  he  promptly  obeyed  orders, 
after  a  few  not  overpolite  expletives  to  give  vent  to  his  feelings. 

Colonel  Hardeman  held  his  position,  in  line  on  the  right,  with 
part  of  Majors'  brigade,  the  First  Louisiana  State  Guard,  and 
Colonel  Gould's  regiment. 

Colonel  Gould  raised  the  question  of  rank  with  Colonel  Har- 
deman, saying,  "I  don't  know  that  you  rank  me,  Colonel  Harde- 
man." To  which  "Old  Gotch"  grimly  replied:  "I  don't  know, 

myself,  and  I  don't  care  a  d .  All  I  want  to  know  is,  whether 

you  will  obey  my  orders."  Under  the  pressure  of  circumstances, 
Colonel  Gould  good  humoredly  yielded  the  point.  The  hot  work- 
before  them  so  wholly  engrossed  their  attention  that  the  little 
dispute  was  soon  forgotten,  and  each  did  his  duty  gallantly. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  543 


The  battle  raged  with  fury  a  good  part  of  the  day,  with  vary- 
ing fortunes.  We  were  gradually  pressed  back  by  weight  of 
numbers,  and  the  enemy  paid  dearly  for  his  laurels,  if  he  gained 
any. 

The  second  day  afterward  (May  18th)  we  had  another  sharp 
encounter  with  the  retreating  enemy  at  Norwood,  inflicting 
heavy  damages. 

General  Taylor,  on  the  19th,  by  complimentary  order,  ex- 
pressed his  high  appreciation  of  the  gallantry  and  conduct  of 
Wharton's  corps  of  cavalry  and  Polignac's  division  of  infantry 
in  the  actions  of  the  16th  and  18th.  "At  Mansura,"  says  the 
order,  "the  enemy's  whole  army  was  kept  back  for  five  hours,  his 
charges  repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  and  at  the  proper  time  our 
little  force  was  withdrawn  from  his  front,  to  be  thrown  upon  his 
flanks  and  rear.  .  .  .  The  skillful  dispositions  made  by 
Major-General  Wharton,  commanding  on  the  field  in  both  these 
engagements,  stamp  him  as  a  soldier  of  high  capacity  and  equal 
to  any  position." 

I  was  not  at  Norwood's  plantation,  the  last  of  this  series  of 
battles.  I  Avas  at  the  headquarters  tent  attending  to  a  large 
amount  of  office  business  that  had  accumulated  and  that  I  had 
been  ordered  by  the  general  to  dispose  of,  when  the  action  oc- 
curred. 

Towards  night  the  ambulances  commenced  coming  in  with  the 
wounded.  I  expressed  my  surprise,  as  no  fighting  was  expected. 
When  General  Wharton  returned,  I  told  him  that  I  felt  hurt 
that  he  should  have  assigned"  me  to  office  work  that  day.  He  re- 
plied that  the  battle  was  brought  on  unexpectedly ;  that  when  he 
started  out  in  the  morning  he  had  no  idea  that  he  would  engage 
the  enemy. 

It  was  a  fierce  battle.  We  lost  many  good  and  true  officers  and 
men.  We  held  the  battleground,  the  enemy  crossing  the  Atchafa- 
laya  beyond  our  reach,  and  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  on 
the  field. 

The  campaign  closed  here,  the  point  at  which  it  began  two 
months  before. 

Major-General  Wharton,  on  the  24th  of  May,  1864,  addressed 
a  general  order  to  his  corps,  in  which  he  said : 

"For  forty-six  days  you  have  daily  engaged  the  enemy,  always 


544  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


superior  to  you  in  numbers.  When  the  beaten  foe,  four  army 
corps  of  infantry  and  5000  cavalry,  began  his  retreat,  you  were 
found  in  battle  array  in  his  front  and  hung  upon  his  flanks  and 
rear,  only  to  destroy.  In  his  retreat  from  Grand  Ecore  to 
Atchafalaya,  you  killed,  wounded  and  captured  4000  men  and 
destroyed  five  transports  and  three  gunboats.  All  this  was  ac- 
complished with  a  loss  to  you  of  only  400  men,  two-thirds  of 
whom  will  report  for  duty  again  in  forty  days.  The  history  of 
no  other  campaign  will  present  the  spectacle  of  a  cavalry  force 
capturing  and  killing  more  of  the  enemy  than  their  own  num- 
ber. This  you  have  done,  and  in  so  doing  have  immortalized 
yourselves  and  added  new  luster  to  the  name  and  fame  of  Texas, 
the  gallantry  of  whose  sons  has  been  illustrated  on  every  battle- 
field, from  Gettysburg  to  Glorieta.  Had  a  portion  of  our  forces 
been  where  I  was  informed  they  were  an  hour  and  a  half  before 
the  engagement  at  Norwood  plantation,  the  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy  would  have  been  entirely  destroyed.  .  .  . 

"Your  advance  guard  are  now  watering  their  horses  in  the 
Mississippi  Kiver,  whither  you  will  soon  follow.  On  short  ra- 
tions and  with  scanty  forage,  and  in  the  saddle  day  and  night, 
you  have  neither  murmured  nor  complained.  .  .  . 

"I,  as  your  commander,  honor  you  for  your  deeds,  and  thus 
acknowledge  my  appreciation  of  your  services.  General  Taylor 
cheerfully  accords  to  you  the  meed  of  his  approbation,  and  in 
his  time  and  way  will  signify  his  admiration. 

"A  grateful  people  will  cherish  the  record  of  your  gallantry." 

As  indicated  by  Wharton,  General  Taylor  issued  a  general 
order  to  his  troops  (Army  of  Western  Louisiana),  in  which  he 
made  proper  acknowledgment  of  the  services  and  merits  of  offi- 
cers and  men.  General  Taylor  said : 

"On  the  12th  of  March  the  enemy  with  an  army  of  30,000 
men,  accompanied  by  a  fleet  of  ironclads  mounting  150  guns, 
moved  forward  for  the  conquest  of  Texas  and  Louisiana.  After 
seventy  days  continuous  fighting  you  stand,  a  band  of  conquer- 
ing heroes,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi.  Fifty  pieces  of  can- 
non, 7000  stand  of  small  arms,  three  gunboats,  and  eight  trans- 
ports captured  or  destroyed,  sixty  stands  of  colors,  over  10,000 
of  the  enemy  killed,  wounded,  or  captured, — these  are  the  tro- 
phies which  adorn  your  victorious  banners.  Along  300  miles  of 
river  you  have  fought  his  fleet,  and  over  200  miles  of  road  you 


LUB 'BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  545 


have  driven  his  army.  You  matched  your  bare  breasts  against 
his  ironclads,  and  proved  victorious  in  the  contest.  You  have 
driven  his  routed  columns  beyond  the  Mississippi,  although  fed 
by  reinforcements  of  fresh  troops,  while  many  of  your  gallant 
comrades  were  withdrawn  to  other  fields.  The  boasted  fleet  which 
lately  sailed  triumphant  over  our  waters  has  fled  in  dismay,  after 
destroying  guns  and  stripping  off  armor  in  its  eagerness  to  escape 
you.  Like  recreant  knights,  the  ironclads  have  fled  the  field, 
leaving  shield  and  sword  behind. 

"The  devotion  and  constancy  you  have  displayed  in  this  pur- 
suit have  never  been  surpassed  in  the  annals  of  war,  and  you 
have  removed  from  the  Confederate  soldier  the  reproach  that  he 
could  win  battles  but  could  not  improve  victories. 

"Along  a  hundred  miles  of  his  path  the  flying  foe,  with  more 
than  savage  barbarity,  burned  every  house  and  village  within 
his  reach.  You  extinguished  the  burning  ruins  in  his  base  blood, 
and  were  nerved  afresh  to  vengeance  by  the  cries  of  women  and 
children  left  without  shelter  or  food. 

"If  the  stern  valor  of  our  well-trained  infantry  was  illustrated 
on  the  bloody  fields  of  Mansfield  and  Pleasant  Hill,  this  long 
pursuit  has  covered  the  cavalry  of  this  army  with  undying  re- 
nown. 

"Whether  charging  on  foot  shoulder  to  shoulder  with  our 
noble  infantry,  or  hurling  your  squadrons  on  the  masses  of  the 
foe,  or  hanging  on  his  flying  columns  with  more  than  the  ten- 
acity of  the  Cossack,  you  have  been  admirable  in  all. 

"Our  artillery  has  been  the  admiration  of  the  army.  Boldly 
advancing  without  cover  against  the  heavy  metal  of  the  hostile 
fleet,  unlimbering  often  without  support  within  range  of  mus- 
ketry, or  remaining  last  on  the  field  to  pour  grape  and  canister 
into  advancing  columns,  our  batteries  have  been  distinguished 
in  exact  proportion  as  opportunity  was  afforded. 

"Soldiers,  these  are  great  and  noble  deeds,  and  they  will  live 
in  chronicle  and  in  song  as  long  as  the  Southern  race  exists  to 
honor  the  earth.  But  much  remains  yet  to  do.  The  fairest  city 
of  the  South  languishes  in  the  invader's  grasp.  .  .  . 

"Soldiers,  this  army  marches  toward  New  Orleans,  and  though 
it  do  not  reach  the  goal,  the  hearts  of  her  patriotic  women  shall 
bound  high  with  joy,  responsive  to  the  echoes  of  your  guns." 

35 


546  LUBBOCfCS  MEMOIRS. 


My  duties  in  Louisiana  were  arduous,  but  as  agreeable  as  such 
duties  could  be  imagined  amid  such  surroundings.  My  health 
was  fine — 1  was  fond  of  the  saddle,  had  good  horses,  and  seldom 
tired  while  riding.  Then,  I  had  known  my  chief  from  his  boy- 
hood. In  1836,  as  I  was  returning  to  New  Orleans  from  my 
first  trip  to  Texas,  I  saw  him,  a  red-haired,  freckled-faced  boy 
of  about  ten  years.  He  was  with  his  father,  William  H.  Whar- 
ton,  minister  to  the  United  States,  then  on  his  way  to  Washing- 
ton City.  Later  we  became  political  and  personal  friends,  a  con- 
nection that  remained  undisturbed  through  our  period  of  soldier- 
ing together,  and  until  his  death.  He  was  always  kind  and 
considerate  to  me,  reposing  entire  confidence  in  my  judgment 
and  devotion  to  the  cause  in  which  we  were  engaged.  With  few 
exceptions,  I  accompanied  him  in  the  field,  and  greatly  enjoyed 
the  association,  for  he  was  so  intelligent,  so  active,  so  brave,  so 
devoted  to  his  work.  A  Texan  by  birth,  he  was  educated  in  my 
native  State  at  the  South  Carolina  University  and  married  Miss 
Penelope  Johnson,  the  daughter  of  a  South  Carolina  Governor. 

The  Banks  campaign  ended,  General  Wharton  received  per- 
mission to  take  the  needed  rest  he  had  applied  for.  Leaving 
Louisiana  for  Texas,  he  took  several  of  his  staff  with  him,  my- 
self among  the  number.  The  journey  was  a  very  pleasant  one. 
General  Wharton  was  in  a  buoyant  humor,  full  of  fun  and  senti- 
ment, and  often  relieved  the  tedium  of  the  way  by  reciting 
snatches  of  verse,  and  in  some  instances  entire  poems.  His  lit- 
erary taste  was  excellent,  his  mind  well  stored  with  masterpieces 
of  British  and  American  poets  that  had  strongly  impressed  him, 
and  his  talents  as  a  speaker  were  of  a  high  order.  Consequently 
these  recitations,  in  each  instance  apropos,  were  much  enjoyed 
by  his  auditors.  A  favorite  of  his  was  "Bingen  on  the  Rhine," 
and  he  recited  it  in  a  manner  that  so  fully  brought  out  its  beau- 
ties and  suggestive  meanings,  that  we,  his  soldier  companions, 
induced  him  to  favor  us  with  it  more  than  once  before  reaching 
our  destination,  the  residence  of  Col.  Leonard  Groce,  near  Hemp- 
stead.  His  mother  and  many  old  friends  and  neighbors,  from 
whom  ho  had  been  absent  for  three  years,  were  assembled  there 
and  welcomed  him  with  every  demonstration  of  affection.  Dur- 
ing his  absence  from  homo  he  had  been  promoted  all  along  the 
line,  from  captain  to  major-general.  We  were  also  kindly  and 
cordially  received.  There  was  quite  a  dinner  party,  and  I  re- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  547 


member  an  incident  that  occurred  while  we  were  at  the  table, 
illustrative  of  his  gay  and  joyous  temperament.  Golonel  Groce 
was  absent  from  home.  General  Wharton's  mother  was  at  one 
end  of  the  table  and  he  at  the  other,  carving  a  very  fine  and  large 
turkey.  One  of  the  guests  made  complimentary  mention  of 
Colonel  Groce,  speaking  of  his  great  generosity  and  hospitality 
to  the  soldiers, — all  of  which  I  knew  to  be  well  deserved. 

Mrs.  Wharton,  at  the  mention  of  Colonel  Groce's  name,  became 
very  much  enthused,  delivering  a  panegyric  on  him.  During 
her  enthusiasm  the  general  dropped  his  knife  and  fork  and  lis- 
tened to  his  mother  very  closely,  and  apparently  with  great  in- 
terest. When  she  was  through,  as  if  desiring  information,  he 
asked  her  very  earnestly,  "Mammy,  is  Colonel  Groce  any  kin  to 
you?" 

"Why,  of  course  he  is.  What  do  you  mean  by  asking  me  such 
a  question?  You  know  he  is  my  brother." 

"Well,"  replied  the  general  with  a  twinkle  in  his  eyes,  "I 
thought  he  must  be  some  kin  to  you." 

It  caused  much  merriment,  for  there  were  present  quite  a 
number  of  strangers  who  were  not  aware  of  the  relationship. 

I  left  the  general  with  his  friends,  and  made  speed  to  my 
own  home  at  Houston,  to  have  a  good  time  also  with  mine.  I 
was,  however,  disappointed  in  my  expectations.  I  had  scarce  ar- 
rived before  General  Wharton  was  ordered  to  return  with  all  dis- 
patch to  the  army  in  Louisiana.  After  hasty  preparations,  I  bade 
farewell  to  wife  and  home,  taking  with  me  my  elegant  "Shiloh," 
Eli,  and  the  pack  mule,  and  rejoined  General  Wharton. 

A  few  days  more  found  us  again  with  his  cavalry  command. 
Nothing  of  note  occurred.  The  army  was  being  reorganized — 
awaiting  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  No  hostile  troops  were 
in  Western  Louisiana,  and  Texas  was  free  from  the  presence  of 
Federal  soldiers,  thanks  to  a  good  Providence  and,  under  Him, 
to  the  Texans  who  crossed  the  border  to  meet  the  invaders. 


548  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY. 

President  Davis  Appoints  Me  Aide  on  His  Staff  —  Affectionate  Farewell 
to  My  Comrades  and  Departure  for  Richmond  —  Crossing  the  Missis- 
sippi at  Night  —  Arrival  at  the  Confederate  Capital  —  Condition  of 
Affairs  There — I  Attend  the  President  on  His  Visit  to  Hood's  Army — 
Associates  at  Richmond  —  Hard  Times  —  The  Conference  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe  —  Terms,  Unconditional  Surrender  —  The  Confederate 
Government  Defiant  —  Admiral  Semmes  —  The  Ominous  Pause. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1864,  I  received  the  following  letter. 
In  consequence  of  the  great  difficulty  of  communicating  across 
the  Mississippi,  it  had  been  on  the  way  nearly  two  months: 

Immediately  upon  its  receipt,  I  consulted  with  General  Whar- 
ton,  Gen.  James  Harrison,  General  Hardeman,  and  other  friends, 
all  of  whom  advised  me  to  accept  the  appointment. 

My  preparations  were  hurriedly  made,  and  in  two  days  I  was 
on  my  way  to  Richmond,  bearing  with  me  a  letter  that  General 
Wharton  gave  me  at  parting.  Though  I  was  not  thrown  among 
his  intimate  acquaintances,  I  cherished  it  as  a  memento  of  a 
friend  I  never  saw  again  and  a  reminder  in  darker  days  of  a 
campaign  of  triumph. 

The  general  said  in  this  letter,  the  last  communication  I  re- 
ceived from  him : 

"I  regret  exceedingly  to  lose  your  services  on  my  staff.  My 
regret  at  parting  with  you,  however,  is  mitigated  by  the  fact 
that  in  your  new  capacity,  as  aide-de-camp  to  the  President,  you 
will  be  more  able  to  serve  your  country. 

"Your  familiarity  with  the  wants  of  the  Trans-Mississippi 
Department  will  enable  you  to  be  of  great  service  to  the  people 
and  army  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 

"Your  zeal  in  the  service  of  our  country  during  your  guber- 
natorial term  is  an  evidence  that  the  same  ability  and  energy 
will  be  displayed  in  your  new  sphere. 

"My  friends  east  of  the  Mississippi  River  will  receive  you 
most  kindly,  as  a  recognition  of  your  own  merits  and  as  a  token 
of  regard  to  myself." 

While  this  old  worn  letter  lies  before  me,  memory  makes  a 
quick  reference  to  the  writer, — to  his  intelligence  in  counsel,  his 
dashing  execution  on  the  field  of  action,  his  bright.,  cultured 


LUBUOC'K'S   MEM01KS.  549 


conversation  with  his  friends,  and  again  I  seem  to  hear  his  voice 
and  see  his  commanding  form;  the  veil  of  the  past  rolls  away, 
I  seem  to  be  standing,  in  the  prime  of  manhood,  surrounded  by 
men  of  that  generation,  all  dressed  in  Confederate  gray,  with 
arms  at  our  sides;  but  after  a  time  I  fold  it  and  replace  it  in 
the  receptacle  that  has  guarded  it  so  long,  and  the  vision  van- 
ishes and  the  present  returns, — a  present  between  which  and 
the  headlands  of  that  other  era  rolls  a  broad  stretch  of  Time's 
mighty  ocean,  made  up  of  the  tossing  waves  of  many  departed 
years. 

Major  Hart,  the  inspector-general,  who  had  charge  of  the 
courier  line  communication  with  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi, 
was  ordered  by  General  Hardeman  to  accompany  me.  A  detail 
was  made  of  three  men  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  me  across 
the  river, — J.  A.  Handley,  Pink  Hunter,  and  Brinkley  Tyler, 
belonging  to  Hardeman's  regiment,  Tom  Green's  brigade.  These 
were  to  go  ahead  to  see  that  the  way  was  open  before  attempting 
to  cross  my  little  cavalcade,  now  composed  of  my  valuable  horse 
"Shiloh,"  Eli  and  pony,  and  my  pack  mule. 

Arriving  at  the  river,  we  procured  a  dugout  secreted  in  the 
bushes  for  the  use  of  our  couriers.  The  bank  was  so  precipitous 
that  our  horses  were  led  to  the  bottom  below  with  great  difficulty. 
The  dugout  had  to  be  let  down  by  means  of  a  rope,  and  much 
care  had  to  be  used  in  launching  to  keep  her  from  filling.  As  it 
was,  she  dipped  very  much,  taking  in  a  quantity  of  water.  Her 
capacity  was  sufficient  for  only  three, — the  man  at  the  paddle, 
the  boy,  and  myself. 

No  one  without  experience  can  appreciate  the  difficulty  of 
crossing  such  a  stream  in  a  dugout  with  only  one  man  using  the 
paddle,  and  impeded  by  three  animals,  two  on  one  side  of  the 
boat  and  one  on  the  other.  Almost  lying  down,  I  held  the  bridle 
of  "Shiloh,"  while  my  boy,  crouching  on  the  other  side,  held  his 
pony  and  the  pack  mule.  When  about  midway  the  stream,  the 
mule  became  tired  and  unmanageable,  and  we  determined  that 
safety  required  us  to  let  him  drown.  Our  boat  being  more  evenly 
balanced,  with  great  care  and  exertion  we  saved  our  two  horses 
and  reached  the  east  side  of  the  great  father  of  waters. 

We  had  a  perilous  trip  across,  expecting  drowning  or  capture 
by  the  Federals  at  any  moment  of  our  passage. 

Our  dugout  was  rocked  by  the  waves  caused  by  the  movement 


550  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  their  gunboats ;  but  the  darkness  of  night  and  the  caution  with 
which  we  proceeded  saved  us  from  their  observation.  Our  con- 
sultation on  the  way  was  carried  on  in  whispers.  We  landed 
wet  and  muddy,  tired  and  hungry,  but  I  was  well  pleased  at  be- 
ing free  and  able  to  proceed  on  my  way. 

Here  I  found  a  good  Confederate  who  made  me  welcome  and 
as  comfortable  as  possible  until  I  could  hasten  onward.  At 
Woodville  I  was  entertained  in  a  manner  that  I  remember  with 
pleasure. 

After  deliberating,  I  concluded  to  travel  by  rail  in  order  to 
reach  Richmond  more  promptly.  I  disposed  of  the  boy's  horse  by 
leaving  him  with  Mr.  Kennard  to  be  sold.  To  him  I  was  under 
many  obligations  for  attending  to  this  so  kindly,  sending  me 
the  money,  and  entertaining  me  hospitably  while  I  was  with 
him.  At  Montgomery  I  was  unable  to  procure  immediate  trans- 
portation for  him,  and  my  gallant  steed,  my  beautiful  "Shiloh," 
my  faithful  field  companion  that  no  money  could  have  pur- 
chased, was  turned  over  to  a  quartermaster,  who  promised  to 
send  him  to  Richmond  in  a  few  days.  It's  wonderful  how  a  man 
comes  to  love  the  horse  that  has  borne  him  often  through  dan- 
ger. I  almost  regarded  mine  as  an  intelligent  fellow-soldier. 
My  great  anxiety  to  report  for  duty  is  the  only  excuse  I  can  of- 
fer for  leaving  my  faithful  animal.  He  never  reached  me,  the 
quartermaster  merely  informing  me  that  my  horse  had  taken 
sick  and  died.  I  learned  subsequently  that  he  was  loaned  to  an 
officer  who  gave  him  a  very  hard  ride,  resulting  in  his  death. 

Another  calamity  that  befell  me  was  the  loss  of  a  pair  of  spurs 
that  I  prized  very  highly,  stolen  by  some  miserable  wretch.  I 
gave  them  to  my  brother  Tom  S.  Lubbock  at  the  beginning  of 
the  war.  He  used  them  until  his  death,  and  I  then  recovered 
them.  I  did  fret  much  at  their  loss,  on  account  of  the  associa- 
tion. 

T  was  refused  transportation  for  my  servant,  and  had  to  pay 
full  fare  for  him  to  Richmond.  Thus  my  trip  was  not  only  a 
hazardous  and  hard  one,  but  very  expensive. 

It  was  with  difficulty  T  could  get  anything  to  eat  on  the  route. 
The  train?  were  crowded  to  suffocation. 

I  spent  a  day  in  Mobile,  and  was  most  kindly  treated  by  my 
old  friends,  Ketchum  and  Pillans.  I  was  delayed  a  day  at  Co- 
lumbus, Ga.,  also  one  at  Macon.  I  then  went  to  Atlanta  to  see 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  551 


General  Hood  and  our  Texas  soldiers.  I  was  detained  there, 
leaving  the  day  of  its  evacuation  by  our  troops. 

At  Atlanta,  September  1st,  somewhat  sick  and  worn  out,  I 
was  resting  at  the  hotel,  when  the  ubiquitous  Tom  Ochiltree  en- 
tered my  room  and  informed  me  that  we  had  better  leave  the 
city  at  once,  as  General  Hood  had  determined  to  abandon  the 
place. 

As  usual,  he  was  in  good  luck,  had  an  ambulance,  and  was 
kind  enough  to  offer  me  a  seat,  which  was  thankfully  accepted. 
We  camped  that  night  with  my  very  good  friend  Major  Little- 
field,  quartermaster  of  Hood's  brigade,  near  enough  to  the  city 
for  the  noise  made  by  the  blowing  up  of  abandoned  stores,  conse- 
quent upon  the  evacuation,  to  reach  our  ears,  and  for  the  fires 
to  light  up  our  camp. 

When  I  started  on  the  train  I  came  near  being  captured  at  a 
small  station,  Bough  and  Eeady.  The  engine  getting  out  of  fuel, 
we  had  to  pick  it  up  by  the  roadside  as  best  we  could  and  run 
the  gauntlet  through  the  enemy's  pickets.  I  spent  one  day  in 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  a  most  beautiful  city.  I  met  Governor  Bon- 
ham,  whom  I  had  known  before,  and  General  Chesnut.  They 
were  both  very  kind  and  courteous. 

I  reached  Eichmond  September  8,  1864,  in  good  health  with 
the  exception  of  a  bad  cold,  twenty-three  days  after  leaving  Gen- 
eral Wharton's  command  in  Louisiana,  the  length  of  time  show- 
ing how  much  of  the  journey  I  had  to  make  on  horseback  (one 
week  of  the  time  riding  through  the  rain),  and  the  broken  up 
condition  of  the  roads  in  Georgia. 

I  very  gladly  accepted  an  invitation  to  stop  at  the  home  of 
Judge  Reagan,93  and  in  due  time  called  upon  Mr.  Davis.  I  was 
very  kindly  received  by  him  and  his  staff,  and  found  the  duties 
assigned  me  sufficiently  agreeable,  although  I  would  have  pre- 
ferred active  service  in  the  field. 

As  soon  as  opportunity  permitted  I  visited  our  old  Texas 
brigade  (Hood's),  and,  as  nothing  less  would  content  them, 
made  them  a  speech.  They  were  a  hardy  looking  set  of  men,  the 
picture  of  good  health — all  heroes,  God  bless  them !  Their 
name  and  fame  were  in  the  mouths  of  all  I  met.  It  was  a  source 
of  proud  gratification  to  me  to  find  that  all  the  Texas  troops  on 

9a  Judge  Reagan  had  lost  his  wife  a  short  time  before,  and  was  still 
keeping  house,  having  his  children  with  him. — ED. 


552  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


that  side  of  the  river  stood  high,  not  only  as  good  fighters  but  as 
honorable  and  well  behaved  men. 

One  of  my  first  acts  on  my  arrival  at  Eichmond  was  to  write 
to  my  beloved  wife,  giving  her  the  details  of  my  trip,  my  re- 
ception by  the  President,  and  such  other  news  as  I  thought  would 
be  of  interest  to  her.  In  this  connection  I  said :  "I  saw  our  old 
Governor  Smith  ('Extra  Billy')  this  morning.  He  made  me 
promise  to  come  and  take  a  cup  of  coffee  with  him  this  evening. 
The  old  gentleman  looks  very  well.  He  was  wounded  before  he 
was  elected  governor.  You  recollect  we  saw  him  at  the  Virginia 
Springs  in  I860. 

"My  dear  wife,  I  do  hope  and  pray  that  you  are  well  and  all 
at  home;  kiss  them  for  me.  Keep  your  spirits  up.  Everything 
will  get  right  after  awhile.  Tell  Mrs.  Eeiley  she  must  have  you 
to  ride  and  visit,  and  make  you  happy. 

"In  writing,  send  letters  to  care  of  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith, 
Shreveport, — sometimes  to  care  of  General  Wharton,  sometimes 
to  care  General  Buckner,  commanding  the  District  of  West 
Louisiana.  Mr.  Gushing  can  tell  you  how  to  send  letters,  or  per- 
haps Captain  Clute." 

In  a  later  letter  I  wrote  to  her : 

"Richmond  is  full  to  overflowing.  It  is  estimated  that  there 
are  one  hundred  thousand  people  in  the  city.  It  is  a  mystery 
how  a  large  number  of  them  subsist. 

"Confederate  money  is  worth  more  here  than  in  Texas,  for 
gold  is  twenty-three  for  one.  The  prices"  of  everything  in  the  way 
of  provisions  is  enormous — flour  $325  per  barrel,  butter  $10  per 
pound,  corn  $50  to  $60  per  bushel,  beef  $3  to  $4  per  pound,  po- 
tatoes $50  to  $60  per  bushel,  sorghum  syrup  $25  to  $30  per  gal- 
lon, etc. ;  board  at  the  hotels  $30  per  day." 

My  association  with  the  staff  was  of  the  most  pleasant  char- 
acter; it  was  also  instructive,  for  they  were  all  men  of  intelli- 
gence and  culture  and  well  up  in  military  affairs. 

When  I  entered  upon  my  staff  service  I  found  for  associates 
Col.  G.  W.  C.  Lee,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  (the  son  of  Gen. 
Robert  E.  Lee),  later  promoted  to  brigadier-general,  and  after 
the  war  president  of  the  Washington-Lee  University;  Col.  Wil- 
liam Preston  Johnston  (son  of  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston), 
after  the  war  a  professor  in  Washington-Lee  University,  and 
for  many  years  president  of  Tulane  University,  Louis- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  553 


iana;  Colonel  Ives,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  and  an  accom- 
plished officer  (now  dead)  ;  Col.  John  Taylor  Wood  (grandson 
of  President  Zachary  Taylor),  a  graduate  of  the  United  States 
Naval  Academy  and  accomplished  in  his  profession  (now  resid- 
ing in  Halifax,  N.  S.)  ;  and  Col.  William  Browne,  of  Georgia, 
afterward  promoted  to  brigadier-general,  quite  distinguished  as 
a  journalist  and  as  a  man  of  letters  (now  dead). 

After  being  on  duty  awhile,  Mr.  Davis  said  (so  a  friend  wrote 
to  me)  that  no  man,  on  so  short  an  association,  had  ever  made 
so  favorable  an  impression  upon  him.  Side  by  side  with  the 
endorsement  of  my  own  people,  I  appreciated  this  from  such  a 
man,  and  I  am  proud  to  know  that  his  friendship  grew  stronger 
day  by  day. 

I  had  scarce  time  to  locate  myself  and  view  my  surroundings 
before  the  President  left  Eichmond  on  a  visit  to  the  army  in 
Georgia  and  Alabama,  taking  Col.  Custis  Lee  and  myself  with 
him.  In  a  letter  to  my  wife,  September  27,  186-i,  written  from 
General  Hood's  headquarters  at  Palmetto,  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  I 
said: 

"We  arrived  here  day  before  yesterday.  I  am  quite  well. 

"I  am  now  visiting  Ector's  Texas  brigade,  and  will  make  them 
a  speech  in  a  few  moments.  I  have  just  learned  that  a  Captain 
Zeigler  is  about  starting  for  Texas,  and  I  have  begged  this 
paper  to  write,  not  knowing  when  I  will  have  another  opportun- 
ity. Everything  is  at  a  standstill  here.  It  may  be  a  lull  before 
the  storm.  We  reviewed  the  army  yesterday.  The  men  are  in 
very  good  health  and  spirits.  I  think  we  will  leave  this  after- 
noon for  Alabama." 

The  trip  to  Alabama  was  full  of  interest  to  me.  While  in 
Montgomery  the  President  and  his  aides  were  the  guests  of 
Governor  Watts,  formerly  the  Attorney-General  of  the  Confed- 
erate States. 

During  our  stay  there  Gen.  Dick  Taylor,  who  had  come  to 
meet  the  President,  discussed  with  him  the  propriety  of  bring- 
ing western  troops  over  to  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi.  Mr. 
Davis  was  very  anxious  to  recruit  our  depleted  ranks.  Though 
we  were  hopeful  that  the  tide  would  soon  turn  in  our  favor,  we 
needed  more  men  in  both  of  our  main  armies.  General  Lee  was 
very  much  in  need  of  more  troops.  In  Georgia  the  President 
tried  to  induce  the  State  authorities  to  co-operate  more  heartily 


554  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


with  the  Confederate  government  in  filling  up  the  army  for  the 
defense  of  their  own  State,  by  making  fewer  exemptions  from 
the  service  and  promptly  enforcing  the  conscription  act. 

General  Taylor  talked  over  the  possibility  of  getting  troops 
from  the  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  and  when  the  latter 
suggested  that  it  might  be  possible  and  that,  if  I  were  sent  over, 
I  could  bring  a  large  body  of  men  to  the  east  side,  Mr.  Davis 
desired  me  to  express  my  opinion  and  wishes.  In  an  instant  the 
situation  was  before  me:  Texas  had  filled  cheerfully  every 
requisition  made  on  her  by  the  Confederate  government  for  the 
armies  east,  and  her  sons  had  turned  out,  from  boyhood  to  old 
age,  to  defend  her  territory.  Her  available  troops  had  just  been 
doing  hard  fighting  across  her  borders  side  by  side  with  those  of 
her  neighboring  States.  The  crossing  of  the  Mississippi  by  a 
body  of  our  troops  would  be  a  stupendous  undertaking,  blockaded 
as  it  was  by  the  enemy.  Then  the  length  of  time  it  would  take, 
supposing  it  could  be  effected,  would  prevent  such  reinforce- 
ments from  arriving  in  time  to  serve  the  purpose  for  which  they 
were  intended.  I  felt  in  my  heart  "anything  for  success,"  but  here 
I  did  not  see  success,  and  at  once  I  said  to  him  :  "When  I  crossed 
the  Mississippi  I  declared  I  would  not  return  until  the  end  of 
the  war.  I  am  subject  to  your  orders,  and  only  under  them  will 
I  go  west  of  the  river  before  that  time."  He  merely  replied, 
"You  will  not.  be  ordered." 

We  were  absent  from  Richmond  sixteen  days,  the  brightest  and 
most  pleasant  that  I  spent  with  Mr.  Davis.  It  was  all  activity 
and  hopeful  effort  for  the  future,  and  entertainment  by  friends, 
for  Mr.  Davis  was  well  received  wherever  we  went.  I  was  a 
subaltern.  To  Mr.  Davis,  the  head  and  front  of  affairs,  they 
must  have  been  trying  days,  these  days  of  conference  with  Gen- 
erals Hood,  Hardee,  Taylor,  and  others  near  Atlanta  and.  on 
our  return,  at  Augusta  with  General  Beauregard  and  General 
Cobb,  in  command  of  the  Georgia  troops. 

The  trip  over,  we  returned  to  Richmond  to  do  what  men  could 
to  meet  the  various  requirements  of  the  times. 

Upon  our  return  to  Richmond  the  first  news  of  a  personal 
nature  was  bad  news.  Eli  was  gone.  Colonel  Lee  had  taken  his 
servant  with  our  party,  and  I  had  left  mine  at  my  quarters  with 
Judge  Reagan. 

One  day  during  our  absence  the  alarm  of  an  attack  on  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  555 


lines  near  the  city  was  given.  The  judge  made  all  preparations 
before  leaving  the  house  for  a  hurried  retreat,  if  necessary.  He 
had  several  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  which  he  placed  in  his  sad- 
dle-bags, leaving  them  in  his  room.  He  returned  during  the 
night,  the  alarm  having  passed.  On  investigation,  he  found  his 
gold  all  gone.  Eli  having  observed  him  while  packing  up,  the 
judge  concluded  he  had  abstracted  the  gold,  repaired  to  the  boy's 
room,  found  him  in  a  quiet  sleep,  awoke  him,  and  demanded  his 
money.  He  at  once  owned  up  that  he  had  taken  it,  declaring  it 
was  the  only  time  he  had  ever  stolen  a  dollar,  and  promised  that, 
if  the  judge  would  not  tell  me  on  my  return,  he  would  tell  him 
all  about  it.  The  judge  made  the  promise.  He  disclosed  the 
fact  that  nearly  -all  the  money  had  been  expended  for  jewelry  for 
his  girl,  and,  getting  the  jewelry,  accompanied  the  judge  to  the 
various  shops  where  he  had  made  the  purchases,  and  the  judge 
had  his  money  returned.  Eli  remained  at  work  until  the  very 
day  of  my  return,  but  then  disappeared,  and  was  seen  no  more 
by  the  judge  or  myself.  We  presumed  that  he  became  fearful 
that  I  would  hear  of  his  bad  conduct,  and  ran  away.  He  was 
about  20  years  old,  and  he  had  always  been  a  very  good  boy.  He 
was  with  me  from  the  day  I  joined  the  army.  I  brought  him  to 
Eichmond  at  great  expense,  he  entreating  me  to  take  him  with 
me.  I  would  not  advertise  him,  but  gave  the  sentinels  notice  on 
our  lines.  About  this  time  many  negroes  were  escaping  to  the 
Yankee  lines,  there  being  a  large  number  of  negro  troops  with 
the  enemy.  My  opinion  is  that  he  was  either  killed  in  going  out 
of  our  lines  or  after  he  joined  the  enemy,  for  I  feel  satisfied  he 
would  have  returned  to  me  or  to  Texas,  for  he  was  devoted  to 
me,  and  he  has  never  been  seen  or  heard  of  since.  Poor  boy, 
many  a  wiser  head  than  thine  has  been  turned  by  woman,  and 
many  a  subtler  spirit  tempted  from  the  path  of  rectitude  by 
gold. 

So  I  was  not  only  unhorsed,  but  servantless. 

A  few  days  later  I  bought  a  horse,  not  a  very  good  one,  either, 
giving  four  or  five  thousand  dollars  for  it. 

The  President,  observing  that  I  was  a  good  Texas  horseman, 
gave  me  an  invitation  to  ride  with  him  almost  daily.  Taking  me 
with  him,  sometimes  alone,  but  generally  with  one  or  another  of 
the  staff,  he  frequently  visited  the  lines  of  the  army  annmd 
Eichmond.  This  was  always  interesting  to  me.  I  preferred  it  to 


556  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


office  work.  All  of  us  had  a  large  amount  of  clerical  work  to 
perform  daily, — lettter  writing  and  drafting  of  telegrams  and 
other  papers. 

In  my  capacity  as  an  aide  to  the  President,  I  met  very  nearly 
all  the  prominent  army  men,  and  renewed  in  that  way  many 
pleasant  friendships  I  had  formed  before  the  war.  It  was  my 
good  fortune  to  know  Generals  Lee,  A.  S.  Johnston,  J.  E.  John- 
ston, Beauregard,  Hardee,  Hood,  Bragg,  Cooper,  Holmes, 
Hampton,  Breckenridge,  Fitzhugh  Lee,  Winder,  Lawton,  Cobb, 
Garey,  Toombs,  Barksdale,  Forrest,  Maury,  Stephen  D.  Lee,  Joe 
Wheeler,  Loring,  Cheatham,  Marmaduke,  Price,  Van  Dorn,  Dib- 
rell,  Fields,  and  hosts  of  others  besides  our  Texas  generals.  I 
met  also  many  private  soldiers,  old  friends  and  true  patriots,  who 
formed  the  lines,  and  whom  I  was  glad  to  greet. 

I  wrote  in  one  of  my  letters  home :  "I  rode  out  yesterday 
afternoon  to  see  General  Longstreet.  I  found  his  health  good, 
but  his  arm  very  weak  from  a  wound  received  in  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness.  He  spoke  in  very  high  terms  of  Frank  Terry  and 
Tom  Lubbock,  and  said  he  always  regretted  that  they  did  not 
return  to  him;  that  they  were  fully  appreciated  by  himself  and 
all  who  knew  them  in  Virginia." 

I  did  all  in  my  power  to  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick 
and  wounded, — making  daily  visits  to  the  hospitals  for  that  pur- 
pose. I  also  aided  in  securing  supplies  and  clothing  for  all  who 
called  on  me  for  aid.  Soldiers  belonging  to  the  Trans-Missis- 
sippi Department  knew  that  I  was  their  representative  on  the 
President's  staff,  and  I  was  appealed  to  by  them  continually  for 
relief.  Even  at  this  late  period  I  frequently  meet  with  those 
whom  I  relieved  during  the  war,  and  they  appear  as  grateful 
now  as  then. 

I  was  at  the  President's  mansion  quite  often,  where  I  always 
received  a  cordial  welcome.  Mrs.  Davis  was  a  most  refined,  ac- 
complished, and  excellent  lady,  bright,  pleasing,  and  intelligent 
in  conversation,  and  an  elegant  entertainer.  Her  sister,  Miss 
Maggie  Howell,  resided  with  her.  A  social  hour  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Davis  was  a  treat. 

I  enjoyed  a  visit  sometimes  to  the  Governor  and  his  wife,  with 
whom  I  was  well  acquainted.  Besides,  I  made  the  acquaintance 
of  many  pleasant  people  and  very  warm  friendships  with  others, 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  557 


and,  when  opportunity  offered,  which  I  must  say  was  seldom,  I 
was  with  them. 

I  became  well  acquainted  with  Mrs.  Winkler,"  wife  of  my  dis- 
tinguished friend  Colonel  Winkler,  of  Hood's  brigade,  and  sub- 
sequently one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  our  State. 
He  married  her  in  Kichmond.  She  was  brave  and  true,  often  in 
the  lines,  sometimes  camping  almost  within  reach  of  the  enemy's 
guns.  She  is  now  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  lovable  women 
in  Texas,  an  honorary  member  of  Hood's  brigade. 

During  the  winter  before  Eichmond  was  evacuated  provisions 
became  very  scarce,  so  much  so  that  even  the  President  had  meat 
only  a  few  times  a  week,  and  had  to  content  himself  with  rice, 
cornmeal,  and  the  plainest  and  scantiest  of  fare.  Occasionally 
Mrs.  Davis  would  get  something  she  could  make  into  a  pie,  and 
knowing  my  fondness  for  such  things,  she  would  send  for  me  to 
dine  with  her,  saying  she  "would  have  pie  for  dinner."  About 
the  only  meat  we  (Judge  Keagan  and  I)  had  was  the  small  sup- 
ply I  drew  from  the  government,  generally  not  more  than  three 
or  four  pounds  of  beef  a  week,  together  with  a  small  ration  of 
rice,  vinegar,  and  salt.  We  would  purchase  outside  a  little  flour 
and  sorghum  molasses,  paying  toward  the  last  as  high  as  $100 
to  $150  per  gallon.  At  breakfast,  as  a  general  thing,  we  had 
black  coffee,  sorghum,  and  biscuit, — the  latter  made  of  flour, 
salt,  and  water,  and  innocent  of  lard  or  baking  powder.  Supper 
the  same.  Our  rice  and  beef  were  reserved  for  dinner.  While 
one  and  one-fourth  pounds  of  beef  were  a  day's  ration  for  a 
soldier,  Judge  Keagan  and  family  and  myself  had  only  about 
half  a  pound  between  us.  As  he  was  a  civilian  he  could  not  draw 
rations,  and  I  divided  mine  with  him.  He  bought  what  he  could 
find  and  afford.  On  one  occasion  Maj.  Win.  H.  Martin,  of 
Hood's  brigade  ("Old  Howdy"),  was  invited  by  us  to  breakfast. 
I  thereupon  visited  the  market  to  try  to  add  to  our  scant  larder. 
All  I  could  get  was  a  shad  fish,  for  which  I  paid  $50.  That  is 
the  way  the  Postmaster-General  and  one  of  the  President's  aides 
fared,  and  that  aide  was  on  friendly  terms  with  the  commissary 
and  could  get  as  good  as  could  be  procured,  so  of  course  there 
were  large  numbers  of  our  men  who  fared  much  worse — almost 
starving.  At  this  very  time  the  Yankees  were  finding  fault  with 
us  for  not  feeding  their  prisoners  full  government  rations. 

As  for  clothes,  I  drew  the  cloth  from  the  government  and  fur- 


558  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


nished  all  the  trimmings  and  paid  a  tailor  $1000  to  make  me  a 
suit  of  gray. 

The  winter  of  1864-65  was  doleful  enough  in  the  Confed- 
erate capital.  The  ever-increasing  scarcity  of  supplies  was  not 
the  only  source  of  anxiety.  Our  spirits  were  continually 
harassed  and  depressed  by  news  of  disaster  from  the  front: 
Hood's  repulse  before  Nashville,  our  worst  defeat  in  the  war 
up  to  this  time;  the  enemy's  occupation  of  Savannah  and 
Charleston ;  and,  finally,  the  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  our  last  sea- 
port. The  latent  hostility  to  the  government  began  to  manifest 
itself  more  boldly.  The  air  was  soon  full  of  rumors  of  peace, 
which  the  enemy  seemed  eager  to  agree  to  if  our  government 
would  only  respond  to  overtures  having  that  object  in  view.  The 
Confederate  leaders  had  no  confidence  in  the  enemy's  sincerity 
of  purpose,  but  President  Davis,  to  disabuse  the  public  mind 
on  this  subject,  appointed  commissioners  to  meet  and  confer  with 
the  Federals.  Our  commissioners  were  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  John 
A.  Campbell  (formerly  associate  justice  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court),  and  Vice- President  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 
who  once  had  close  personal  relations  with  Mr.  Lincoln  when  a 
congressman.  The  preliminaries  all  arranged,  these  distinguished 
gentlemen  met  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  of  State  Seward 
on  board  ship  off  Fortress  Monroe.  The  conference  was  wholly 
informal,  and  no  record  of  its  proceedings  was  taken  down  by 
anyone  acting  as  secretary.  It  ended  in  a  few  hours  without  any 
agreement  having  been  reached.  President  Lincoln  offered  no 
terms  of  peace,  except  unconditional  surrender,  which  was  not 
to  be  thought  of.  The  leader  of  a  lost  cause  need  not  expect 
to  escape  unjust  criticism  ;  and  so  President  Davis  has  been 
cruelly  blamed  for  no  agreement  being  reached  that  would  have 
ended  the  war  and  secured  some  benefits  to  us ;  this,  too.  when 
no  terms  were  submitted  other  than  remain  after  irreparable  de- 
feat to  a  conquered  enemy.  Our  commissioners  entered  into  the 
conference  in  good  faith,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  peace  to 
the  "two  countries,"  while  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Sew- 
ard were  committed  to  "the  view  of  securing  peace  to  the  peo- 
ple of  our  one  common  countni."  These  views  were  incompati- 
ble, and  one  side  or  the  other  had  to  yield.  The  commissioners 
waived  their  instructions  so  far  as  to  call  out  from  Presided 
Lincoln  what  terms  the  Confederates  might  expect  in  his  "one 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  559 


common  country."  This  is  found  in  the  commissioners'  report 
of  February  5,  1865,  which,  among  other  things,  said : 

"We  understood  from  him  [President  Lincoln]  that  "no  terms 
or  proposals  of  any  treaty  or  agreement  looking  to  an  ultimate 
settlement  would  be  entertained  or  made  by  him  with  the  au- 
thorities of  the  Confederate  States,  because  that  would  be  a 
recognition  of  their  existence  as  a  separate  power,  which  under 
no  circumstances  would  be  done;  and,  for  a  like  reason,  that  no 
such  terms  would  be  entertained  by  him  for  the  States  separately ; 
no  extended  truce  or  armistice  (as  at  present  advised)  would  be 
granted  or  allowed  without  a  satisfactory  assurance  in  advance 
of  the  complete  restoration  of  the  authority  of  the  Constitution 
and  laws  over  all  the  places  within  the  States  of  the  Confeder- 
acy; that  whatever  consequences  may  follow  from  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  that  authority  must  be  accepted;  that  individuals 
subject  to  pains  and  penalties  under  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  might  rely  upon  a  very  liberal  use  of  the  power  confided 
to  him  to  remit  those  pains  and  penalties  if  peace  be  restored." 
This  meant  unconditional  submission,  if  it  meant  anything  at  all. 
And  Judge  Campbell  says  in  his  memoranda:  "In  conclusion, 
Mr.  Hunter  summed  up  what  seemed  to  be  the  result  of  the  in- 
terview: That  there  could  be  no  arrangements  by  treaty  be- 
tween the  Confederate  States  and  the  United  States,  or  any 
agreement  between  them;  that  there  was  nothing  left  for  them 
but  unconditional  submission." 

In  response  to  a  request  of  the  United  States  Senate  for  in- 
formation on  this  subject,  President  Lincoln  submitted  the  fol- 
lowing message : 

"EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  February  10,  1865. 
"On  the  morning  of  the  3d  inst.,  the  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell,  came  aboard  of  our  steamer 
and  had  an  interview  with  the  Secretary  of  State  and  myself 
of  several  hours'  duration.  No  question  of  preliminaries  to  the 
meeting  was  then  and  there  made  or  mentioned.  No  papers 
were  exchanged  or  produced,  and  it  was  in  advance  agreed  that 
the  conversation  was  to  be  informal  and  verbal  merely.  On  my 
part,  the  whole  substance  of  the  instructions  to  the  Secretary 
of  State,  hereinbefore  recited,  was  stated  and  insisted  upon,  and 
nothing  was  said  inconsistent  therewith,  while  by  the  other  party 


560  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


it  was  not  said  that  in  any  event  or  any  condition  they  ever 
would  consent  to  reunion;  and  they  equally  omitted  to  declare 
that  they  would  never  so  consent.  They  seemed  to  desire  a 
postponement  of  that  question  and  the  adoption  of  some  other 
course  first,  which,  as  some  of  them  seemed  to  argue,  might  or 
might  not  lead  to  reunion ;  but  which  course,  we  thought,  would 
amount  to  an  indefinite  postponement. 

"The  conference  ended  without  result.  The  foregoing,  con- 
taining as  it  is  believed  all  the  information  sought,  is  respect- 
fully submitted. 

"ABRAHAM  LINCOLN/' 

It  will  be  observed  from  the  above  that  President  Lincoln  does 
not  claim  that  he  offered  any  terms  for  reunion.  Even  an  arm- 
istice was  refused  unless  we  agreed  in  advance  to  reunion  without 
conditions.  Such  an  agreement  would  have  been  tantamount 
to  an  acknowledgment  that  the  Confederacy  had  no  legal  exist- 
ance  as  a  government,  and  that  its  supporters  were  rebels. 

By  continuing  the  war  we  secured  terms  of  surrender  from 
General  Grant,  not  as  good  as  might  have  been,  but  still  of  in- 
calculable importance,  and  infinitely  better  than  unconditional 
surrender.  Grant's  terms  were  in  substance  given  to  all  our 
armies,  and  proved  to  be  the  only  barrier  against  Federal  en- 
croachment upon  our  rights  of  person  and  property. 

After  the  failure  of  the  peace  conference,  the  Confederate 
Congress  issued  an  address  to  the  people,  saying  in  part :  "The 
enemy,  after  drawing  us  into  a  conference,  abruptly  terminated  it 
by  insisting  upon  terms  which  they  well  knew  we  could  not  ac- 
cept. Our  absolute  surrender  and  submission  to  the  will  of  the 
conqueror  are  the  only  conditions  vouchsafed  by  our  arrogant 
foe.  We  are  told  that  if  we  will  lay  down  our  arms  and  our  lives, 
liberty,  property,  and  domestic  institutions  at  the  feet  of  Presi- 
dent Lincoln,  he  will  be  merciful  to  us." 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  African  Church  at  Eichmond  for  an 
exchange  of  views  on  the  situation,  President  Davis  opened  the 
discussion  by  an  eloquent  speech  urging  a  continuance  of  the 
war,  as  right  was  sure  to  prevail  in  the  end.  He  was  bold 
and  defiant  in  his  utterances,  and  his  hopes  of  final  success  for 
our  cause  appeared  unshaken  by  accumulating  disasters. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  561 


Vice-President  Stephens .  was  loudly  called  on  for  a  speech, 
but  he  did  not  respond. 

In  a  burst  of  pathetic  eloquence  R.  M.  T.  Hunter  said :  "What- 
ever is  sacred  in  human  affections,  or  dear  to  the  hearts  of  men, 
is  involved  in  this  contest;  and  may  God  grant  us  the  wisdom 
to  devise  and  the  arm  to  execute  those  measures  which,  under 
His  hand,  shall  effect  our  deliverance  in  this  great  crisis." 

"We  now  know  that  this  people  must  conquer  its  freedom  or 
die,"  said  Secretary  Benjamin.  ".  .  .  The  government  must 
take  in  charge  every  bale  of  cotton  and  every  pound  of  tobacco, 
as  a  basis  of  means  for  prosecuting  the  war,  and  every  pound  of 
bacon  must  come  as  a  free  gift  to  feed  the  soldiers.  Talk  of 
rights !  What  rights  do  the  arrogant  invaders  leave  you  ?  To 
the  army  in  front  send  aid,  be  it  white  or  black.  Let  us  say 
to  every  negro  who  wishes  to  go  into  the  ranks  on  condition  of 
being  made  free :  'Go  and  fight ;  you  are  free  !'  .  .  .  My  own 
negroes  have  been  to  me  and  said :  'Master,  set  us  free,  and  we 
will  fight  for  you.  We  had  rather  fight  for  you  than  for  the 
Yankees.' " 

In  conclusion,  Mr.  Benjamin  said  that  it  was  the  affair  of  the 
States  separately  to  move  off  in  this  matter  of  freeing  such  slaves 
as  chose  to  fight  for  their  country,  and  that  Virginia  should 
take  the  lead. 

In  February,  1865,  General  Lee  was  made  generalissimo  of 
all  the  Confederate  armies,  and  clothed  with  extraordinary 
powers  to  meet  the  emergency. 

In  view  of  our  desperate  situation,  Lee  urged  that  the  ranks 
of  the  army  be  filled  with  negro  troops.  In  response  to  the  call 
of  her  noblest  son,  Virginia,  through  her  Legislature,  authorized 
the  enlistment  of  slaves  on  terms  to  be  agreed  upon  between 
their  owners  and  the  Confederate  authorities. 

Finally  Congress  authorized  by  act  the  enlistment  of  slaves 
in  the  army ;  but  it  came  too  late  for  enforcement. 

Thinking,  perhaps,  that  the  last  battle  would  be  in  Virginia, 
General  Lee,  in  a  letter  to  General  Breckenridge,  then  Secretary 
of  War,  said,  under  date  of  February  19,  1865  :  "It  is  necessary 
to  bring  out  all  of  our  strength,  and,  I  fear,  to  unite  our  armies, 
as  separately  they  do  not  seem  to  be  able  to  make  headway  against 
the  enemy.  Provisions  must  be  accumulated  in  Virginia,  and 
36 


562  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


every  man  in  all  the  States  brought  out.  I  fear  it  may  be  neces- 
sary to  abandon  all  our  cities,  and  preparations  should  be  made 
for  this  contingency." 

The  final  effort  of  General  Lee  to  raise  the  seige  of  Richmond 
was  the  assault  on  Fort  Stedman,  led  by  the  heroic  Gen.  Jno. 
B.  Gordon.  Though  taken,  the  fort  could  not  be  held  and  our 
condition  was  not  bettered. 

Admiral  Raphael  Semmes,94  of  Alabama  fame,  commanded 
our  gunboat  fleet  on  James  River. 

Lee's  veterans  still  presented  an  intrepid  front,  and  the  over- 
whelming enemy  paused,  as  if  with  a  kind  of  involuntary  re- 
spect for  the  Confederates,  before  closing  in  for  the  last  struggle. 


94  After  the  loss  of  his  ship,  the  Alabama,  in  the  English  Channel  in 
June,  1864,  Semmes  made  his  way  back  to  the  Confederacy  via  Mexico. 
He  passed  through  Texas  by  stage,  and  after  a  few  days  rest  at  his 
home  in  Mobile  arrived  at  Richmond  in  January,  1865.  He  was  then 
immediately  promoted  to  the  rank  of  rear  admiral  in  the  Confederate 
navy  and  placed  in  command  of  the  James  River  fleet.  Semmes  did 
not  get  to  test  his  skill  as  commander  of  an  inland  fleet. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  563 


CHAPTEK  THIRTY-ONE. 

Evacuation  of  Richmond  —  Confederate  Government  at  Danville  — 
Lee's  Surrender  —  President  Davis  and  Staff  at  Greensboro — Halt  at 
Charlotte  —  Sherman-Johnston  Negotiations  —  Departure  Southward 
of  the  Presidential  Party  and  Escort  —  Last  Cabinet  Meeting  —  Last 
Council  of  War  —  Dissolution  of  the  Government  at  Washington, 
Ga. —  Mrs.  Davis  —  The  President  and  Party  Captured  —  Indigni- 
ties —  My  Letter  Home  Written  from  Macon  —  Augusta— Reagan, 
Stephens  and  Wheeler  —  Fortress  Monroe  and  Fort  Delaware. 

As  spring  approached  the  alarms  of  attack  were  more  fre- 
quent; and  all  too  soon,  on  Sunday  morning,  April  2,  1865, 
the  reality  came. 

The  President  while  at  church  received  a  telegram  from  Gen- 
eral Lee  advising  him  of  his  intention  to  that  night  withdraw  his 
forces  from  the  inner  lines  of  the  defenses  of  Petersburg.  He 
left  the  church  quietly,  and,  going  to  his  office,  gave  directions 
for  the  evacuation  of  Richmond,  which  was  to  take  place  simul- 
taneously with  General  Lee's  withdrawal  from  his  position,  noti- 
fying the  cabinet  and  staff  officers  that  we  would  leave  on  the 
train  for  Danville.95 

I  was  at  church  and  heard  nothing  until,  stopping  at  the 
stable  for  my  horse  on  my  way  to  dinner,  I  was  informed  that 
a  messenger  had  been  there  for  me,  and  learned  of  the  excite- 
ment in  the  city.  I  repaired  immediately  to  the  executive  office. 
There  I  found  everything  upside  down,  packing.  My  energies 
were  bent  to  the  work  of  preparation  for  the  departure,  and  as 
things  were  fairly  packed  before  I  got  to  the  office,  I  could  soon 
leave  for  the  executive  mansion,  where,  after  rendering  some 
assistance  to  the  President,  I  received  from  him  my  orders. 

I  met  him  at  the  hour  appointed  and  accompanied  him,  with 
the  other  members  of  his  staff,  to  the  train.  This  was  the  saddest 
trip  I  had  ever  made,  for  I  could  but  feel  grieved — sorely  dis- 
tressed ;  a  sorrow  that  was  ominous  of  the  future. 

Arriving  safely  at  Danville,  we  went  into  quarters,  opened 
up  our  offices,  and  assumed  our  duties. 

95  Mrs.  Davis  had  previously  gone  to  Chester,  S.  C.,  on  account  of 
her  failing  health.  Col.  Burton  Harrison  attended  her. 


564  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  people  of  the  town  extended  every  aid  and  courtesy  to  the 
government  officials.  The  President  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Suth- 
erlin,  and  we  also  partook  of  his  hospitality. 

It  was  here  April  5,  1865,  he  issued  a  stirring  appeal96  to  the 
people,  expressing  his  hope  that  we  would  yet  ultimately  be 
victorious.  After  remaining  some  eight  days  in  Danville  we  re- 
ceived intelligence  that  Lee's  army  was  to  be  surrendered.  This 
news  was  brought  by  young  Wise,  whose  promptness  probably 
saved  us  for  the  time  being  from  capture.  We  closed  our  office, 
packed  up,  and  left  for  Charlotte. 

Upon  reaching  Greensboro,  the  President  had  a  conference 
with  Generals  Johnston97  and  Beauregard,  and  his  cabinet  offi- 
cers. It  was  decided  that  General  Johnston  should  hold  a  con- 
ference with  General  Sherman  about  the  suspension  of  hostili- 
ties, to  see  if  any  arrangements  could  be  made  to  put  an  end  to 
the  war. 

A  cartel  embodying  terms  of  surrender  for  Johnston's  army 
was  drafted  and  sent  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  for  approval,  and, 
pending  a  reply,  an  armistice  was  agreed  upon. 

Leaving  Greensboro  on  the  16th,  we  arrived  at  Charlotte  two 
days  later.  The  people  gathered  about  the  President  and  showed 
him  every  attention  and  respect.  While  he  was  talking  to  them 
he  was  handed  a  telegram.  The  assembly,  presuming  it  was 
some  army  news,  called  vociferously  for  its  reading.  It  proved 
to  be  a  telegram  announcing  the  assassination  of  President  Lin- 

»*  President  Davis  said  in  this  address: 

"It  is  for  us,  my  countrymen,  to  show  by  our  bearing  under  reverses 
how  wretched  has  been  the  self-deception  of  those  who  have  believed 
us  less  able  to  endure  misfortune  with  fortitude  than  to  encounter 
danger  with  courage. 

"We  have  now  entered  upon  a  new  phase  of  the  struggle.  Relieved 
from  the  necessity  of  guarding  particular  points,  our  army  will  be  free 
to  move  from  point  to  point  to  strike  the  enemy  in  detail,  far  from  his 
base.  Let  us  but  will  it,  and  we  are  free.  .  .  . 

"Let  us  then  not  despond,  my  countrymen;  but,  relying  on  God,  meet 
the  foe  with  fresh  defiance  and  with  unconquered  and  unconquerable 
hearts." 

*7  President  Davis  was  not  convinced  that  Johnston's  surrender  was 
necessary,  and  always  held  that  he  should  have  insisted  on  better  terms 
than  were  accorded  to  Lee,  as  the  circumstances  of  his  situation  were 
vastly  different. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  565 


coin,  which  he  read  to  the  assembly.  I  think  it  produced  a  pro- 
found impression.  Mr.  Davis  was  as  much  surprised  as  the  mul- 
titude at  the  intelligence.  Following  the  reading  of  this  dispatch 
he  delivered  an  eloquent  speech,  urging  the  people  to  keep  up 
the  struggle  and  expressing  the  belief  that  we  would  still  tri- 
umph. 

General  Duke,  with  Dibrell's  cavalry,  held  Charlotte  while 
negotiations  were  pending  between  Generals  Johnston  and  Sher- 
man. General  Breckenridge  soon  brought  Mr.  Davis  a  copy  of 
the  Johnston-Sherman  cartel ;  but  two  days  later  Johnston  wired 
that  the  authorities  at  Washington  had  rejected  it,  and  shortly 
thereafter  came  the  news  of  his  surrender  on  the  24th  of  April. 

Thereupon  the  President  and  staff,  with  General  Breckenridge, 
the  Secretary  of  War,  and  the  remaining  members  of  the  cabi- 
net left  Charlotte  to  join,  if  possible,  Generals  Taylor  and  For- 
rest in  Alabama,  and  with  those  commanders,  and  such  troops  as 
they  might  be  able  to  hold  together,  retreat  across  the  Missis- 
sippi into  Texas,  and  there  marshal  another  army  and  continue 
the  war.  A  conception  worthy  of  the  daring  and  resolute  mind 
of  the  hero  of  Buena  Vista,  and  of  a  spirit  that  did  not  yield  to 
defeat  until  all  power  of  resistance  was  withdrawn  by  Fate ! 

Speaking  of  the  last  cabinet  meeting  held,  Hon.  John  H.  Eea- 
gan  says : 

"I  remember  very  well  our  last  cabinet  meeting.  It  was  after 
we  had  left  Eichmond  and  were  traveling  through  the  southern 
portion  of  North  Carolina.  It  was  near  the  border  of  the  two 
States,  North  and  South  Carolina.  It  was  under  a  big  pine 
tree  that  we  stopped  to  take  some  lunch.  Mr.  Trenholm,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  was  absent.  He  had  been  taken  sick 
at  Charlotte,  and  after  trying  to  keep  up  with  us  for  about 
twenty  miles,  he  gave  out  and  tendered  his  resignation.  The 
resignation  of  Mr.  Trenholm  was  discussed,  and  it  was  finally 
accepted,  and  I  was  selected  to  take  charge  of  his  portfolio  in 
conjunction  with  that  of  Postmaster-General.  I  remember  on 
that  occasion  Mr.  Davis  said,  when  I  requested  to  be  relieved 
from  that  additional  duty:  'You  can  look  after  that  without 
much  trouble.  We  have  concluded  that  there  is  not  much  for 
the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  to  do,  and  there  is  but  little  money 
left  for  him  to  steal.'  That  was  in  April,  1865. 

"Some  time  after  that  George  Davis,  Attorney-General,  asked 


566  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


President  Davis'  advice  about  retiring  from  the  cabinet.  The 
Attorney-General  said  he  wanted  to  stand  by  the  Confederacy, 
but  his  family  and  his  property  were  at  Wilmington,  and  he  was 
in  doubt  as  to  where  his  duty  called  him.  'By  the  side  of  your 
family,'  promptly  responded  Mr.  Davis.  After  the  Attorney- 
General  left  us,  there  were  only  four  members  of  the  cabinet  left 
to  continue  the  journey  to  Washington,  Ga.,  which  was  our 
destination." 

On  our  journey  we  found  the  country  in  many  places  desolated 
and  the  people  sadly  depressed.  They  seemed  afraid  to  have  our 
party  with  them;  afraid  of  being  visited  with  vengeance  for 
having  entertained  us.  Seeing  this,  I  remarked  to  the  Presi- 
dent :  "Wait,  sir,  until  we  get  into  my  native  State,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  you  will  know  it."  In  the  afternoon,  while  passing 
a  handsome  residence,  some  little  distance  from  the  road,  a  bevy 
of  ladies  approached  the  gate  with  beautiful  flowers,  threw  them 
at  Mr.  Davis'  feet,  and  insisted  on  the  President  and  his  party 
dismounting.  This  we  did,  and  entered  the  hospitable  home. 
They  would  not  listen  to  us  going  further  that  day,  and  we  spent 
the  night.  The  gentleman's  name,  as  well  as  I  remember,  was 
Springs.  I  remember  he  married  a  Baxter,  and  subsequently 
some  of  the  family  came  to  Houston.  Upon  being  so  cordially 
received,  I  very  naturally  inquired  what  State  we  were  in.  The 
reply  came,  "South  Carolina,"  to  my  great  delight. 

"We  put  up  at  Abbeville,  S.  C.,  for  the  night,"  says  Judge 
^Reagan,  "because  we  were  informed  that  a  lot  of  Yankee  cav- 
alry were  in  Washington,  Ga.  At  that  point  Benjamin  said  he 
proposed  to  leave  the  country  and  get  as  far  away  from  the 
United  States  as  possible.  Mr.  Davis  asked  him  how  he  proposed 
to  get  down  to  the  coast.  'Oh,'  replied  Benjamin,  'there  is  a 
distinguished  Frenchman  whose  name  and  initials  are  the  same 
as  mine,  and,  as  I  can  talk  a  little  French,  I  propose  to  pass  my- 
self off  as  the  French  Benjamin.' ': 

The  President  was  the  guest  of  Mr.  Burt  at  Abbeville,  and 
there,  on  the  night  of  our  arrival,  was  held  the  last  council  of 
war. 

Mr.  Davis'  escort  consisted  of  five  skeleton  brigades  (2500 
oavalry)  commanded  by  Generals  Duke,  Dibrell,  Ferguson, 
Brookenridge  (W.  P.  C.),  and  Vaughn. 

The  President  called  a  council  of  war  to  ascertain  from  these 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  567 


brigade  commanders  the  true  spirit  of  their  soldiers,  and  presided 
over  it  in  person.  Gens.  J.  C.  Breckenridge  (Secretary  of  War) 
and  Bragg  were  also  present.  Of  those  participating  in  the 
council,  President  Davis  alone  seemed  entirely  calm  and  un- 
affected by  the  desperate  state  of  our  fortunes.  He  was  affable, 
dignified,  and  looked  the  very  personification  of  high  and  un- 
daunted courage.  Each  officer  gave  in  his  turn  a  statement  of 
the  condition  and  feeling  of  his  men,  and,  when  urged  to  do  so, 
declared  his  views  on  the  situation.  The  declarations  of  all  were 
in  substance  the  same.  They  and  their  soldiers  despaired  of  the 
war  being  further  successfully  conducted,  and  doubted  the  pro- 
priety of  prolonging  it.  They  said  that  the  honor  of  the  sol- 
diery was  involved  in  securing  Mr.  Davis'  safe  escape ;  that  they 
would  not  surrender,  if  it  were  possible  to  avoid  it,  until  that 
object  was  accomplished,  and  that  if  need  be  they  would  risk  bat- 
tle to  attain  it ;  but,  that  done,  they  would  not  ask  their  men  to 
struggle  against  a  fate  which  was  inevitable  and  forfeit  all  hope 
of  restoration  to  their  homes  and  friends. 

Mr.  Davis  declared  that  he  wished  to  hear  of  no  plan  which 
had  for  its  object  only  his  safety;  that  2500  brave  men  were 
enough  to  prolong  the  war  until  the  panic  had  passed,  and  they 
would  then  constitute  a  nucleus  for  thousands  more  to  gather 
around.  "He  urged  us,"  says  General  Duke,  "to  accept  his  views. 
We  were  silent,  for  we  could  not  agree  with  him,  and  respected 
him  too  much  to  reply.  Mr.  Davis  then  said  bitterly  that  all 
hope  was  gone, — that  all  the  friends  of  the  Soiith  were  prepared 
to  consent  to  her  degradation.  When  he  arose  to  leave  the  room 
he  had  lost  his  erect  bearing,  his  face  was  pale,  and  he  faltered 
so  much  in  his  steps  that  he  was  compelled  to  lean  upon  General 
Breckenridge.  It  was  a  sad  sight  to  men  who  felt  towards  him 
as  we  did.  I  will  venture  to  say  that  nothing  he  has  subse- 
quently endured  equaled  the  bitterness  of  that  moment." 

Besides  the  escort,  the  President's  party  consisted  of  Hon. 
Jno.  H.  Eeagan,  Postmaster-General  and  Acting  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  Col.  Wm.  Preston  Johnston,  Col.  John  Taylor 
Wood,  Lieutenant  Barnwell,  of  South  Carolina,  and  myself,  and 
the  faithful  colored  servant  of  Mr.  Davis,  James  Jones. 

We  had  no  wagon  or  ambulance.  Mr.  Davis  had  a  small  pack- 
mule,  carrvinsr  his  blankets  and  valise.  I  had  a  led-animal. 


5C8  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


having  recently  bought  a  fine  horse.  The  others  had  but  one 
horse  each. 

For  some  time  my  Richmond  animal  was  a  little  lame  and 
unable  to  keep  up  with  the  President's  elegant  horse  "Ken- 
tucky," a  present  sent  him  by  a  party  from  that  State.  I  de- 
termined, if  possible,  to  procure  one  that  was  as  good  a  traveler. 
We  fell  in  with  a  Kentucky  quartermaster  who  had  a  superb 
roadster,  black  as  a  raven,  thoroughly  gaited,  and  a  beauty.  He 
placed  his  price  at  $125  in  gold.  I  paid  for  him  with  $20  in 
gold,  borrowed  from  Judge  Reagan,  and  a  bill  that  I  had  with 
me.  When  I  left  Texas  Mr.  Warren  Adams,  a  neighbor  of  mine, 
gave  me  a  twenty-pound  English  bank  note  to  hand  a  party  in 
Virginia.  I  secured  that  note  by  wrapping  it  in  my  pants.  I 
never  did  find  the  party  to  whom  I  was  to  pay  it.  That  note, 
which  would  have  purchased  a  cartload  of  Confederate  money  at 
that  time,  was  the  one  I  used  in  payment  for  the  horse,  and  I 
paid  its'value  in  gold  to  Mr.  Adams  upon  my  return  to  Texas. 

While  mine  was  lame,  General  Breckenridge  very  kindly 
loaned  me  one  of  his  horses,  an  admirable  one.  I  became  very 
much  attached  to  it,  and  I  offered  for  it  fifty  cows  with  their 
calves,  well  worth  $500  in  gold,  and  agreed  to  write  to  my  stock- 
keeper  to  brand  and  keep  them  for  him  for  one  season, — a  little 
fortune  for  one  of  his  younger  children.  For  some  reason  he 
would  not  sell,  but  said :  "He  is  yours  to  use  at  all  times." 

That  offer,  to  a  Texas  cow  man,  would  sound  as  big  as  "my 
kingdom  for  a  horse."  The  truth  is,  $125  in  gold  in  the  last 
days  of  the  Confederacy  and  1 00  head  of  cattle  on  my  ranch  near 
Houston  was  something  to  speak  of.  Richard's  kingdom,  at  the 
time  he  offered  to  barter  it,  was  not. 

Continuing  in  a  westerly  direction,  we  reached  the  Savannah 
River,  and  halted  awhile  on  its  banks.  Here,  through  the  in- 
fluence of  General  Breckenridge,  the  troops  were  paid  a  portion 
of  the  gold  brought  out  from  Richmond,  and  here  Dibrell  and 
Vaughn,  with  their  men,  remained  to  surrender.  Our  party, 
growing  smaller  all  the  time,  arrived  in  Washington,  Ga.,  about 
the  4th  of  May.  T  had  the  good  luck  here  to  meet  up  with  my 
friend  Gen.  Tom  Harrison,  commander  of  the  Texas  Rangers. 
He  had  been  severely  wounded  in  North  Carolina,  and,  having 
no  clothing,  obtained  a  few  necessary  articles  from  me.  Judge 
Reagan  remained  awhile  in  town  to  close  out  the  Confederate 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  569 


treasury  business.  This  he  did  in  short  order,  causing  to  be 
burned  about  $700,000  in  Confederate  notes.  Judge  Reagan 
overtook  Colonel  Johnston  and  myself  at  a  country  blacksmith 
shop,  and  resuming  our  journey  togther,  we  soon  overtook  our 
party. 

After  leaving  Washington  and  before  reaching  Sandersville, 
'Ga.,  all  our  remaining  cavalry  commands  dropped  out,  going  in 
various  directions. 

At .  Sandersville  we  fell  in  with  M.  H.  Clark,98  acting  treas- 
urer. When  about  separating  he  suggested  to  the  members  of 
the  staff  that  we  would  need  funds  for  our  subsistence  and  trans- 
portation, and  that  if  we  would  take  $1500  each  in  gold  he 
would  pay  us  that  sum.  This  offer  we  accepted,  giving  the  fol- 
lowing form  of  receipt : 

"SANDERSVILLE,  GA.,  May  6,  1865. 
"$1500. 

"Received  of  M.  H.  Clark,  Acting  Treasurer  C.  S.,  fifteen 
hundred  dollars  ($1500)  gold  coin,  the  property  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  for  transmission  abroad,  of  the  safe  arrival  of 
which  due  notice  to  be  given  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury." 

[Signature.] 

No  funds  were  given  to  the  President.  I  have  learned  that 
Judge  Reagan  was  prevailed  upon  by  the  Treasurer  to  place  in 
his  saddle-bags  some  $3500.  The  judge  had  quite  an  amount 
of  his  own  funds  with  him. 

Preston  Johnston  remained  in  Sandersville  to  transact  some 
business.  Judge  Reagan  and  myself  also  stopped  subsequently 
to  reclaim  one  of  our  horses  which  had  been  stolen.  When  we 
met  Colonel  Johnston  again  he  told  us  he  had  some  very  im- 
portant intelligence  for  the  President,  and  that  he  must  hasten 
to  him.  The  news  was  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  Mrs. 
Davis  and  party  were  on  a  parallel  road  with  us  a  few  miles 

9  8  In  after  years  Mr.  M.  H.  Clark  wrote  to  Mrs.  Davis  (October  6, 
1890),  as  follows: 

"I  came  out  of  Richmond  with  him  [President  Davis. — ED.]  the 
chief  and  confidential  clerk  of  the  executive  office,  in  charge  of  the 
office  papers,  a  member  of  his  military  family,  composed  of  his  cabinet 
and  staff,  and  I  was  close  to  his  person  until  he  parted  with  me  on  May 
6,  1865,  near  Sandersville.  Ga.,  and  sent  me  in  charge  of  our  wagon 
train,  he  leaving  'everything  on  wheels'  to  join  you." 


570  LUBBOCICS  MEMOIRS, 


across  the  country,  and  that  a  band  of  deserters  and  discharged 
soldiers  were  following  her  train  with  the  view  of  robbing  it 
of  the  mules  and  horses,  and  probably  of  their  subsistence. 

"Colonel,"  said  I,  "these  rumors  may  be  incorrect;  your  re- 
port may  change  the  plans  of  Mr.  Davis.  Burton  Harrison  is 
with  Mrs.  Davis ;  he  will  take  care  of  her,  and  we  had  better  not 
stop  to  look  after  the  train." 

"Colonel,"  he  promptly  replied,  "I  have  been  with  Mr.  Davis 
and  his  family  a  long  while ;  I  know  him  better  than  you  do.  He 
would  never  forgive  me  if  I  should  withhold  this  information 
from  him.  He  would  say:  'It  was  your  duty  to  give  me  the 
facts,  and  let  me  decide  the  course  I  should  take.' ';  So  saying, 
he  pushed  on. 

Judge  Eeagan  and  myself  got  to  the  camp  the  presidential 
party  had  vacated  after  night.  There  we  found  a  guide  who 
was  to  take  us  over  the  country  and  enable  us  to  rejoin  the  Presi- 
dent. We  were  well  mounted  and  rode  very  rapidly.  The  guide 
knew  the  country  well  and  took  us  straight  through  fields,  let- 
ting down  fences  and  riding  through  gates.  About  midnight 
we  overtook  the  President.  After  the  usual  greetings  the  entire 
party  moved  forward,  our  horses  pushed  to  a  brisk  canter. 
Some  time  before  daylight  we  were  halted.  The  guard  chal- 
lenging us  was  Burton  Harrison.  Anticipating  an  attack  from 
marauders,  he  was  on  the  alert,  and  had  thrown  out  pickets  with 
instructions  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout.  We  were  soon  in  camp, 
where  the  President  had  the  pleasure  of  embracing  his  wife  and 
children  in  their  tent,  and  we  betook  ourselves  to  rest  as  best  we 
could. 

Although  quite  tired,  we  were  astir  early,  and  immediately 
after  breakfast  resumed  our  journey.  The  President's  party, 
very  small  before  and  without  a  wagon  or  tent,  was  largely  in- 
creased by  Mrs.  Davis  and  her  train,  composed  of  several  wagons 
and  ambulances,  driven  by  paroled  soldiers.  As  a  consequence 
we  could  move  but  slowly. 

The  train  had  been  provided  by  the  quartermasters  to  convey 
her  and  family,  with  necessary  stores,  to  a  place  of  safety. 

After  traveling  a  few  miles,  Mr.  Davis  took  leave  of  his  fam- 
ily. Col.  Burton  Harrison,  with  Mrs.  Davis,  was  to  proceed  to 
a  ferry  on  the  river,  while  the  President  was  to  take  a  road 
loading  up  the  river,  cross  at  a  ford,  and  travel  in  a  somewhat 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  571 


opposite  direction.  Upon  arriving  at  the  ford  (quite  a  distance), 
we  could  not  cross,  the  stream  being  much  swollen.  There  was 
no  alternative  but  to  drop  back  and  take  the  ferry.  We  arrived 
there  after  night.  The  road  was  so  boggy  that  it  was  almost  im- 
passable, and  reminded  me  of  the  Brazos  and  Trinity  bottoms 
during  a  rainy  season. 

There  we  found  that  Colonel  Harrison  was  still  at  the  ferry 
with  a  portion  of  his  train  not  yet  passed  over  the  river.  After 
great  delay  we  crossed  and  again  struck  camp  together. 

We  were  moving  quite  early  next  morning.  Fully  realizing 
that  so  large  a  party  would  be  certain  to  attract  the  attention  of 
the  enemy's  scouts,  that  we  had  every  reason  to  believe  were  in 
pursuit  of  us,  it  was  decided  at  noon  that  as  soon  as  we  had  con- 
cluded the  midday  meal  the  President  and  his  companions  would 
again  bid  farewell  to  Mrs.  Davis  and  her  escort.  We  halted  on 
a  small  stream  near  Irvinsville,  Ga.,  and  dinner  over,  saddled 
our  horses,  and  made  everything  ready  to  mount  at  a  moment's 
notice.  Time  wore  on,  the  afternoon  was  spent,  night  set  in, 
and  we  were  still  in  camp.  Why  the  order  "to  horse"  was  not 
given  by  the  President  I  do  not  know. 

Next  morning,  May  10,  1865,  just  before  daylight,  during  a 
cool,  drizzling  rain,  we  were  awakened  by  sharp  firing  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  stream. 

Col.  John  Taylor  Wood  and  myself  slept  under  a  pine  tree, 
fifty  or  one  hundred  feet  from  Mr.  Davis;  the  others  being 
nearer  his  tent.  We  sprang  immediately  to  our  feet.  Colonel 
Wood  put  on  his  Yankee  blouse  and  escaped ;"  the  best  thing  for 
him  to  do,  as  he  had  incurred  the  special  hatred  of  the  Yankees 
by  his  naval  exploits.  Drawing  on  my  boots,  I  secured  my  horse, 
which  was  tied  close  to  my  head,  and  held  him  by  the  reins. 

By  this  time  the  Federal  troopers  were  on  us.  We  were  scarce 
called  upon  to  surrender  before  they  pounced  down  upon  us  like 

9  9  Colonel  Wood,  after  leaving  us,  fell  in  with  General  Breckenridge, 
and  they  made  their  way  together  to  Cuba,  and  thence  to  Montreal, 
Canada,  from  which  place  Colonel  Wood  wrote,  under  date  of  July  27, 
1865,  to  my  wife  at  Houston,  speaking  in  very  complimentary  terms  of 
my  behavior  when  the  enemy  entered  our  camp,  expressing  the  wish 
that  I  might  soon  be  restored  to  liberty,  and  stating  that  nothing  would 
afford  him  greater  pleasure  than  to  render  Mrs.  Lubbock  any  service  in 
his  power. 


572  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


freebooters,  and  in  a  short  time  they  were  in  possession  of  very 
nearly  everything  of  value  that  was  in  the  camp.  I  resisted  heing 
robbed,  and  lost  nothing  then  except  some  gold  coin  that  was  in 
my  holsters.  I  demanded  to  see  an  officer,  and  called  attention 
to  the  firing,  saying  that  they  were  killing  their  own  men  across 
the  branch,  and  that  we  had  no  armed  men  with  us.  It  tran- 
spired that  the  Fourth  Michigan,  who  captured  us,  and  an  In- 
diana regiment,  coming  on  us  from  opposite  directions,  were 
firing  into  each  other,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  of  their 
own  men. 

While  a  stop  was  being  put  to  this  I  went  over  to  Mr.  Davis, 
who  was  seated  on  a  log,  under  guard.  I  wish  here,  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  truth  of  history,  and  from  my  own  knowledge,  to 
emphatically  brand  as  false  the  statement  that  Mr.  Davis  was 
disguised  in  female  apparel.  He  was  dressed  in  the  clothes  he 
wore  the  day  before,  and  his  bearing  was  such  as  might  have 
been  expected  from  a  man  who  had  often  met  perils  unmoved, — 
that  of  a  brave  soldier,  a  great  general  whose  sun  was  sinking 
below  the  horizon  after  stormy  days  of  battle,  of  a  noble  patriot 
capable  of  dying,  if  fortune  so  willed,  upon  the  block  without 
the  tremor  of  a  muscle,  without  blanching  of  the  cheek  by  the  ab- 
sence of  a  single  wonted  crimson  drop,  and  with  flashing  eagle 
eyes  undimmed.  He  sat  firmly  erect,  and  looked  in  all  respects 
more  the  ideal  hero  than  in  the  hours  of  his  greatest  prosperity. 

The  man  who  a  few  days  before  was  at  the  head  of  a  govern- 
men  was  treated  by  his  captors  with  uncalled  for  indignity.  To 
cite  one  instance  is  sufficient:  A  private  stepped  up  to  him 
rudely  and  said:  "Well,  Jeffy,  how  do  you  feel  now?"  I  was 
so  exasperated  that  I  threatened  to  kill  the  fellow,  and  called 
upon  the  officers  to  protect  their  prisoner  from  insult. 

The  conduct  of  the  captors  throughout  was  marked  by  any- 
thing but  soldierly  bearing.  They  found  no  preparations  for  de- 
fense, and  encountered  no  resistance,  and  could  have  well  been 
magnanimous,  as  they  had  secured  such  a  prize ;  but  they  showed 
the  smallness  of  their  souls  all  the  way  from  overbearing  con- 
duct down  to  the  pilfering  of  small  articles. 

After  the  excitement  of  the  capture  was  over,  the  wounded 
cared  for,  and  the  killed  buried,  Colonel  Pritchard,  in  command 
of  the  Union  troopers,  promised  he  would  parade  his  regiment, 
recover  the  stolen  property  (money,  watches,  and  other  things), 


JNO.  H.  REAGAN.  F.  R.   LUBBOCK. 

JNO.  TAYLOR  WOOD. 
WM.  PRESTON   JOHNSON.  BURTON   N.  HARRISON, 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  573 


and  return  it  to  the  owners.  The  parade  was  not  ordered,  nor 
was  anything  that  had  been  stolen  returned,  not  even  the  articles 
that  belonged  to  Mrs.  Davis.  Her  horses,  given  her  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Kichmond,  were  unharnessed  and  appropriated,  although 
we  all  protested  and  assured  Colonel  Pritchard  that  the  horses 
were  her  private  and  personal  property.  During  all  this  wretched 
time  she  bore  up  with  womanly  fortitude.  She  may  have  ex- 
pressed to  her  friends  her  indignation  at  the  conduct  of  our 
captors;  but  her  bearing  towards  them  was  such  as  was  to  be 
expected  from  so  elegant,  high-souled,  and  refined  a  Southern 
woman. 

The  children  were  all  young,  and  hovered  about  her  like  a 
covey  of  young,  frightened  partridges;  while  her  sister,  Miss 
Maggie  Howell,  was  wonderfully  self-possessed  and  dignified.100 

When  I  think  of  the  terrible  trial  that  tested  their  souls,  I 
feel  that  the  heroism  of  our  armies  was  surpassed  by  the  moral 
courage  of  our  women. 

Except  Colonel  Wood,  Lieutenant  Barnwell  was  the  only  one 
of  our  party  who  escaped. 

The  prisoners  were  next  arranged  in  accordance  with  orders, 
and  Colonel  Pritchard,  with  his  command  as  guard,  took  up  the 
line  of  march  for  Macon.  On  our  way  thither  we  received  a 
most  notable  piece  of  news.  It  was  Johnson's  proclamation  of 
$100,000  reward  for  the  capture  of  Mr.  Davis,  who  was  charged 
with  being  an  accessory  to  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln, — 
a  charge  so  preposterous  to  those  of  us  who  knew  him  that  we 
were  at  a  loss  to  account  for  its  having  been  made  until  we  be- 
came more  fully  acquainted  with  the  blind  rage  that  possessed 
the  Northern  people. 

I  rode  my  fine  Kentucky  horse  to  Macon.  Upon  his  back  was 
one  of  those  beautiful  "Hope"  saddles  known  to  all  old  Texans, 
presented  to  me  by  my  friend  C.  K.  Hall,  of  Bastrop.  I  had  it 
completely  rigged  when  going  into  the  army.  I  had  used  it  for 
many  years  before,  when  I  almost  lived  in  the  saddle.  I  was 
never  thrown  out  of  it,  and  loved  it  nearly  as  well  as  I  did  my 
spurs,  not  only  for  the  use  I  had  out  of  it,  but  the  sentiment  sur- 
rounding it.  When  I  dismounted  at  Macon  I  told  the  officer 

100  The  coarse  indignities  of  the  Yankees  on  this  occasion  were 
wholly  inexcusable. — ED. 


574  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


that  I  would  like  to  retain  my  saddle;  that  I  would  pay  more 
than  its  value  in  consequence  of  its  having  been  the  gift  of  a 
friend.  He  replied,  "The  government  wants  your  saddle."  I 
answered  sharply,  "I  reckon  you  want  it."  There  was  a  good 
double-reined  bridle  on  the  horse.  I  had  no  strap  on  my  Mexi- 
can blanket,  which  he  tried  to  take  from  me.  I  took  my  knife 
out  of  my  pocket,  and  in  an  instant  cut  the  reins  off  close  to  the 
bit,  saying,  "Well,  I  will  just  take  these  to  strap  my  blanket." 
He  looked  daggers  at  me,  but  I  kept  the  reins. 

Here  I  managed  to  write  a  letter  home,  which  reached  there 
after  a  very  long  time.  I  still  had  paper  of  the  executive  office 
of  the  Confederate  States,  and  wrote  upon  it.  I  suppose  it  was 
my  Texas  experience  in  rough  traveling,  added  to  my  methodical 
way  of  carrying  on  business  even  under  difficulties,  that  accounts 
for  my  being  so  well  equipped  at  the  end  of  such  a  long  and  rapid 
retreat.  My  saddle  bags  were  not  only  supplied  with  writing 
material  necessary  to  the  business  of  an  aide,  but  I  had  a  suffi- 
ciency of  good  clothing  on  my  pack  horse,  a  Mexican  blanket,  and 
other  necessaries ;  wore  a  good  new  uniform  and  new  boots,  re- 
tained my  valuable  gold  watch,  and  had  money  enough  in  my 
possession  to  have  been  murdered  if  it  had  been  known. 

I  was  equipped  for  a  campaign,  and  lost  nothing  upon  being 
made  a  prisoner  but  my  horses,  saddle,  and  pistols,  and  part  of 
the  money  deposited  in  my  holsters. 

Here  is  the  letter  home: 

"MACON,  May  13,  1865. 

"My  Dear  Wife :  I  am  at  this  place  a  prisoner  of  war.  The 
President,  with  a  small  party  making  their  way  to  the  Trans- 
Mississippi,  was  captured  on  the  10th  near  Irvinsville,  Ga.,  about 
100  miles  south  of  this  place. 

"It  is  said  we  will  be  sent  to  Washington  immediately. 

"Do  not  be  uneasy,  my  dear  wife.  I  am  in  fine  health  and 
about  as  well  treated  as  could  be  expected.  I  will  endeavor  to 
write  you  frequently.  Keep  up  your  spirits,  my  sweet  wife.  All 
will  yet  be  well. 

"You  had  better  sell  cattle  if  you  can  occasionally  for  specie, 
and  secure  it  in  case  you  should  need  it. 

"I  can  not  yet  determine  what  I  shall  do. 

"I  shall  stand  by  the  country  as  long  as  there  is  a  government 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  575 


or  any  hope.  I  can  not  say  much  at  present.  God  bless  you  and 
all  at  home.  Give  my  love  to  all.  Kiss  the  children  for  me, 
and  believe  me,  my  dear  wife, 

"Yours  most  truly, 

"F.  E.  LUBBOCK." 

The  children  referred  to  were  our  nieces  and  nephews. 

This  letter  makes  plain  that  I  wished  to  provide  specie  for  an 
emergency,  though  what  that  might  be  I  could  not  decide,  and 
shows  that  I  still  clung  to  a  hope  for  the  Confederacy.  That 
hope  was  founded  upon  my  high  appreciation  of  the  western 
army,  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  remember  that,  just  as  I  was 
writing  that  letter,  though  the  President  was  captured,  the  Con- 
federates in  Texas  won  a  victory  in  a  fight,  the  last  of  the  war, 
near  Brazos  Santiago,  and  Gen.  Kirby  Smith  did  not  surrender 
until  two  weeks  after,  May  26,  1865. 

From  Macon  we  were  taken  by  rail  to  Augusta,  thence  by  boat 
to  Savannah,  and  from  the  latter  place  by  gunboat  to  Fortress 
Monroe,  at  the  month  of  the  James. 

At  Augusta  our  number  was  increased  by  Vice-President  Alex- 
ander H.  Stephens,  Senator  Clay  of  Alabama,  with  his  hand- 
some, spirited  wife,  and  Gen.  Joe  Wheeler,  chief  of  cavalry  in 
the  Army  of  Tennessee,  with  his  adjutant,  Captain  Eawle.  The 
region  about  Augusta  was  the  territory  in  which  this  dashing 
cavalry  commander  displayed  so  much  heroism,  driving  back  to 
their  base  marauding  parties  sent  out  from  General  Sherman's 
lines  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 

Mr.  Clay  was  included  in  Mr.  Johnson's  proclamation  with 
Mr.  Davis,  and  voluntarily  surrendered  himself  to  meet  the 
charge. 

It  is  proper  here  to  state  that  General  Wheeler  had  met  Mr. 
Davis  when  at  Charlotte,  from  which  place,  after  consultation, 
he  repaired  to  Greensboro  for  his  cavalry  force  to  form  part  of 
the  presidential  escort ;  but  by  an  unforeseen  mishap  failed  in  his 
purpose  and  did  not  see  Mr.  Davis  again  until  they  met  as  pris- 
oners at  Augusta.  General  Wheeler,  some  years  later,  when  a 
member  of  the  United  States  Congress  from  Alabama,  thus  wrote 
in  his  "Eeminiscences  of  Jefferson  Davis" : 

"I  next  met  Mr.  Davis  at  Augusta.  .  .  .  We  went  to  Sa- 
vannah on  a  small  steamboat,  thence  to  Hilton  Head,  where  we 


576  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


boarded  the  transport  Clyde,  and,  convoyed  by  the  frigate  Tus- 
carora,  we  sailed  for  Fortress  Monroe. 

"Our  party  included  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis,  their  daughter,  a 
very  young  girl  in  short  dresses,  and  Miss  Winnie,  a  baby  in 
arms ;  also  Miss  Howell,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Davis ;  Mr.  Reagan,  Sen- 
ator and  Mrs.  C.  C.  Clay,  Alexander  Stephens,  Col.  Preston 
Johnston,  Cols.  F.  R.  Lubbock  and  Burton  Harrison,  of  Mr. 
Davis'  staff,  and  my  three  staff  officers,  Col.  Marcellus  Hudson, 
Captain  Rawle,  and  Lieutenant  Ryan. 

"We  formed  a  very  pleasant  group,  and,  considering  all  things, 
enjoyed  the  trip  more  than  might  have  been  expected.  Mr.  Da- 
vis' noble  courage  never  forsook  him  for  a  moment ;  he  was  per- 
fectly calm  and  seemed  to  have  no  regard  for  himself  or  his  fate. 
He  fully  appreciated  the  sad  condition  of  the  people  of  the  Con- 
federacy, and  much  that  he  said  showed  how  clearly  his  pene- 
trating mind  peered  into  the  future.  ...  I  saw  two  possi- 
ble chances  for  his  escape,  both  of  which  I  made  known  to  him, 
but  he  expressed  himself  as  not  desiring  to  make  the  attempt. 
It  was  evident  that  he  felt  his  relief  from  responsibility,  and, 
amid  all  his  trials  and  troubles,  he  evidently  enjoyed  the  pleas- 
ure of  having  a  few  days  which  he  could  so  entirely  devote  to 
his  family.  He  walked  the  deck  with  his  baby,  Winnie,  in  his 
arms,  and  frequently  allowed  me  the  same  privilege,  which  I  was 
always  delighted  to  accept.  We  were  at  sea  several  days,  the  Tus- 
carora  always  being  near  us." 

In  the  late  Spanish  war  General  Wheeler  left  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress to  accept  a  commission  as  major-general  of  volunteers  in 
the  United  States  army,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself  in 
the  campaign  before  Santiago  de  Cuba.  The  fame  of  this  gal- 
lant ex-Confederate  and  now  United  States  soldier  is  fresh  in 
the  minds  of  all  the  people  of  the  restored  Union. 

As  to  Vice-President  Stephens'  demeanor,  as  far  as  Fortress 
Monroe,  General  Wheeler  said :  "Mr.  Stephens  and  myself  oc- 
cupied the  same  stateroom.  He  was  less  cheerful  than  Mr.  Davis, 
and  seemed  very  much  more  apprehensive  regarding  our  fate. 
I  tried  to  reassure  him,  and  reminded  him  of  his  Savannah 
speech,  and  of  his  extensive  acquaintance  with  men  who  held 
prominent  positions  in  the  government ;  but  my  arguments  were 
without  effect,  and  he  expressed  himself  as  convinced  that  his 
confinement  would  be  very  long,  if  not  perpetual.  I  said,  'Why, 


LUBBOCJCS  MEMOIRS.  677 


Mr.  Stephens,  if  you  expect  such  treatment,  what  about  Mr. 
Davis  ?'  His  only  reply  was :  'My  young  friend,  do  not  speak 
of  it.' " 

When  we  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe  Mr.  Davis  did  me  the 
honor  to  request  of  the  United  States  government  that  I  should 
be  permitted  to  share  his  prison  with  him.  This  was  promptly 
refused. 

For  the  next  two  years  this  fortress  was  the  place  of  his  im- 
prisonment, the  severities  of  which  he  endured  with  manly  dig- 
nity and  heroic  fortitude.  Senator  Clay  was  also  incarcerated 
here.  Their  families  were  sent  back  to  Savannah. 

Vice-President  Stephens  and  the  Postmaster  General,  John 
H.  Reagan,  were  sent  to  Fort  Warren,  in  Boston  harbor;  Col. 
Burton  N".  Harrison,  the  President's  private  secretary,  to  the  old 
Capitol  prison,  Washington,  D.  C. ;  and  Gen.  Joe  Wheeler,  Col. 
Preston  Johnston  and  myself  to  Fort  Delaware,  on  the  west  side 
of  Delaware  Bay.  We  were  conveyed  to  Fort  Delaware  on  the 
steamer  Maumee,  Commander  Parker,  now  a  prominent  lawyer 
in  New  York.101 

On  the  trip  Captain  Parker  was  very  kind,  and  said :  "Col- 
onel, if  you  will  make  no  attempt  to  escape,  I  will  with  pleasure 
give  my  room  up  to  you."  I  readily  gave  the  required  promise, 
telling  him  I  could  not  swim  well  enough  to  attempt  an  escape, 
and  that  I  had  no  intention  of  committing  suicide. 

From  that  time  forward  I  had  a  comfortable  voyage. 


101  In  1890  (while  I  was  State  Treasurer)  Captain  Parker  called 
upon  me  at  the  capitol,  and  we  passed  some  time  together  in  pleasant 
conversation.  It  was  deemed  quite  a  notable  fact  that/ after  so  many 
years,  he  and  his  three  prisoners  should  all  be  alive  and  getting  along 
well  in  the  world — General  Wheeler  a  member  of  Congress  from  Ala- 
bama, Colonel  Johnston  president  of  Tulane  University,  Louisiana,  and 
myself  State  Treasurer  of  Texas. 
37 


578  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-TWO. 

Life  in  Prison  —  General  Schoepff  —  My  Bare  Quarters  —  Hard  Fare  — 
No  Books  but  the  Bible  and  Prayer  Book  —  No  Letters  Allowed  to  Go 
Out  or  Come  In  —  A  Ruse  —  News  —  Release  —  Washington  City  — 
Interview  with  Secretary  Stanton  and  President  Johnson  —  Return  to 
Texas  via  Cairo  and  New  Orleans  —  Welcome  Home  —  The  Situation 
in  Texas. 

As  I  entered  the  barracks  at  Fort  Delaware  I  was  met  by  my 
friend  Colonel  Manning,  of  the  Third  Arkansas,  who  most  cor- 
dially welcomed  me  to  the  prison.  I  smiled  and  said :  "Colonel, 
the  mischief  you  are  glad  to  see  me  here !" 

"Well,"  he  answered,  "Lubbock,  I  meant  if  you  had  to  be  in 
prison,  I  wanted  you  with  us." 

Housed  in  the  quarters  to  which  we  were  directed  were  2500 
Confederates,  in  charge  of  a  North  Carolinian,  Colonel  Hinton, 
one  of  their  number,  who  was  held  responsible  for  their  good 
conduct.  I  was  told  to  select  a  bunk,  which  I  did  up  on  the 
third  tier,  and  commenced  earnestly  to  fix  for  such  comfort  as 
prison  life  could  afford.  I  arranged  my  blanket  and  clothing, 
and  gave  my  soiled  linen  to  a  lieutenant,  who  agreed  to  wash 
them,  after  which  I  took  dinner,  by  invitation,  with  friends,  a 
very  fair  prison  dinner;  also  my  supper.  I  purchased  a  few 
trinkets,  whalebone  rings,  made  by  some  expert  carver,  to  give 
him  a  little  spending  money.  Each  officer  brought  his  particular 
talent  into  requisition  to  contribute  to  his  comfort. 

Through  the  day  I  met  many  friends,  and  thought  I  was  about 
to  have  a  good  time  with  so  much  good  company,  despite  the  sor- 
rowful circumstances.  My  fellow  captives  were  very  cheerful, 
as  they  expected  to  be  released  in  a  few  days.102 

After  a  pleasant  evening  I  climbed  into  my  bunk  and  slept 
well,  getting  up  next  morning  quite  refreshed. 

After  breakfast  an  officer  presented  himself  and  asked  if  I 
was  Colonel  Lubbock. 

10>June  6th  all  the  privates  and  officers  up  to  captain  inclusive 
were  ordered  released,  on  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance.  The  higher 
officers  were  to  be  released,  so  we  were  informed,  afte.r  the  discharge  of 
all  the  others. 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  579 


Being  told  that  I  was  Colonel  Lubbock,  he  said:  "General 
Schoepff,  the  commandant,  wishes  to  see  you  at  his  headquarters 
over  at  the  fort." 

I  replied:    "I  will  accompany  you  at  once." 

As  I  moved  off  with  him,  he  said :  "You  had  better  take  your 
things  with  you." 

I  answered:   "My  clothing  has  been  given  out  to  wash." 

"Oh,  we  will  attend  to  that,"  he  rejoined. 

Getting  my  saddle-bags  and  Mexican  blanket,  I  accompanied 
him,  supposing  that  the  General  intended  giving  me  more  agree- 
able quarters  in  the  fort,  and  probably  wished  to  interview  the 
whilom  War-Governor  of  Texas  and  aide-de-camp  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Confederate  States. 

If  these  were  my  thoughts,  and  any  visions  of  comfort  for  my 
captured  carcass  flitted  through  my  imagination,  they  soon  van- 
ished when  I  was  invited  to  a  seat  on  a  gun-carriage,  with  two 
sentinels  placed  over  me. 

I  was  then  informed  by  the  provost  marshal  that  they  were 
preparing  a  suitable  room  for  my  sole  accommodation,  which  I 
thought  very  nice  of  them.  At  12  o'clock,  having  occupied  my 
seat  since  8  o'clock,  a  soldier  handed  me  a  tin  cup  of  bean  soup 
out  of  an  apparently  very  dirty  wooden  pail ;  also  a  small  piece 
of  pickled  pork,  hard  tack,  and  a  bottle  of  vinegar. 

I  may  say  right  here  that  I  made  up  my  mind  when  captured 
never  to  wince,  if  I  could  avoid  it,  in  the  presence  of  one  of  my 
captors  or  guards, — to  take  everything  as  it  came  and  be  cheer- 
ful. So  when  being  marched  along  the  highway  to  Macon,  I 
treated  everything  that  happened  lightly.  When  asked  by  Col- 
onel Pritchard  when  I  thought  the  cause  lost,  I  replied :  "When 
you  captured  President  Davis  and  me,"  a  pleasantry  that  called 
forth  a  hearty  laugh  from  him,  as  was  intended. 

Now,  being  hungry,  I  ate  everything  they  gave  me  except  the 
bottle  of  vinegar — scraping  up  the  last  crumb.  Upon  the  guard 
remarking  that  I  seemed  to  enjoy  my  dinner,  I  replied :  "Very 
much.  It  is  the  best  meal  I  have  had  in  six  months;  the  soup 
was  fine,  if  it  did  come  out  of  such  a  dirty  bucket.  Do  you  al- 
ways feed  so  well?"  and  at  once  I  proceeded  to  let  my  belt  out 
several  holes. 

I  was  kept  on  that  gun-carriage  until  dark  and  then  taken  to, 
the  quarters  they  had  been  so  many  hours  in  preparing  for  me. 


580  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


When  I  entered,  will  you  believe  it?  (the  war  was  over  and 
all  of  our  armies  had  surrendered  and  returned  home)  I  found 
myself  in  a  room  about  12x14  feet,  its  door  and  three  windows 
iron-grated  with  regular  prison  bars,  the  windows  looking  out 
on  a  wide  moat  filled  with  water.  The  floor  had  been  scrubbed 
and  was  still  wet.  The  walls  had  just  been  whitewashed,  or 
rather  smeared  over  with  lime,  and  were  also  wet.  There  was 
no  chair,  or  bed,  or  blanket,  to  rest  upon,  or  indeed  any  article 
of  furniture, — there  was  just  the  floor,  ceiling,  and  four  walls, 
and  there  was  no  light  except  that  furnished  by  the  lamp  in  the 
hall. 

I  used  my  saddle-bags  for  a  pillow,  and  my  Mexican  blanket, 
which  I  had  kept  them  from  robbing  me  of,  to  sleep  upon.  My 
pillow  was  hard,  but  there  was  a  big  grain  of  comfort  in  the  fact 
that  it  still  contained  my  Confederate  gold. 

Two  guards  watched  at  my  door,  and  at  times  during  the  night 
they  would  come  and  thrust  their  lanterns  into  my  face,  for 
what  purpose  I  know  not.  Probably  it  was  to  see  if  I  was  hatch- 
ing treason,  or  possibly  they  thought  I  would  attempt  suicide. 
I  have  tried  to  think  of  some  motive  for  it  besides  unmitigated 
meanness.  I  may  have  been  ready  for  "treason,  stratagem,  and 
spoils" — but  never  for  suicide.  I  wasn't  built  that  way. 

I  had  for  my  breakfast  next  morning  a  piece  of  fresh  beef, 
some  baker's  bread,  and  water.  Then,  for  dinner,  bean  soup, 
pickled  pork,  hardtack,  and  all  the  water  I  desired ;  and  day  by 
day  I  had  beef  three  times  a  week  and  pickled  pork  the  other 
days,  hardtack  and  baker's  bread  alternately,  vinegar,  salt,  and 
pepper.  They  never  did  give  me  a  cup  of  coffee  or  tea. 

After  a  few  days  I  sent  for  the  provost  marshal  and  told  him 
unless  he  gave  me  a  bed  to  sleep  upon,  I  would  demand  to  be 
sent  to  the  hospital ;  that  I  would  not  stand  the  floor  any  longer. 
I  was  then  furnished  with  a  sack  filled  with  hay  on  a  wooden 
bunk. 

Some  time  after  that  a  Dr.  McClellan,  cousin  to  General  Mc- 
Clellan,  was  assigned  to  duty  at  the  fort.  He  visited  me,  and 
upon  seeing  how  I  was  treated  became  quite  indignant,  saying: 
I  will  see  the  general  and  get  permission  to  furnish  you  with  nec- 
essary bedding."  The  day  following  he  sent  me  a  mattress,  pil- 
low, pillow-cases,  and  sheets,  promising  when  they  were 
soiled  to  have  them  changed.  He  also  sent  me  a  book  from  time 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  581 


to  time,  and  after  his  interesting  himself  in  my  behalf,  I  was  fur- 
nished with  a  seat  and  table. 

I  was  not  allowed  to  write  to  my  wife.  I  managed,  however, 
through  the  guard,  to  get  many  letters  out  and  to  receive  a  few 
in  return,  writing  of  course  and  receiving  answers  under  a  fic- 
titious name,  that  of  Saltus,  the  name  of  my  maternal  grand- 
father. 

While  it  was  positively  prohibited  for  the  guards  to  converse 
with  me,  in  the  course  of  time  I  had  so  impressed  myself  upon 
them  that,  when  the  officer  was  out  of  the  way,  they  would  listen 
to  my  story.  Many  of  them  were  Germans,  and  I  told  them  of 
my  canvass  against  the  Know-Nothings,  and  that  gained  their 
friendship,  and  I  won  the  sympathy  of  all.  Some  of  them  would 
get  me  pencil  and  paper  when  I  desired,  and  deliver  my  letters  to 
a  boatman  (who  carried  the  mail)  and  receive  the  answers.  They 
would  accept  little  mementoes  of  the  Confederacy  from  me,  such 
as  postage  stamps  with  Mr.  Davis'  photograph  on  them,  and  paste 
them  in  their  hats  with  Mr.  Lincoln's.  They  would  sometimes 
say :  "Give  me  something  so  that,  if  we  come  to  Texas,  you  will 
know  us." 

On  one  occasion  there  was  quite  a  scene  with  the  provost  mar- 
shal and  myself.  Owing  to  the  watchfulness  of  an  officer,  one 
of  my  letters  to  my  wife  was  intercepted.  It  was  brought  in 
by  the  provost  marshal.  He  confronted  me  with  it  and  attempted 
to  give  me  a  lecture  for  writing,  stating  that  I  knew  it  was 
against  the  prison  discipline.  I  answered  him  I  had  written, 
and  he  could  rest  assured  I  would  continue  to  do  so  whenever 
opportunity  offered ;  that  it  was  dastardly  cruelty  to  prohibit  me, 
a  prisoner,  from  writing  to  my  family,  when  I  had  offered  to 
submit  my  letters  to  him  before  mailing.  I  continued  to  get 
letters  in  and  out,  and  finally,  three  weeks  before  my  discharge, 
was  granted  formal  permission  to  write  and  receive  such  com- 
munications. 

The  first  thing  Mrs.  Lubbock  heard  of  me  after  I  was  taken 
North  was  through  the  following  advertisement : 

"To  MRS.  LOBOCK,  OF  TEXAS. — Your  husband,  Col.  Frank 
Lobock,  is  confined  at  Fort  Delaware  in  good  health  and  spir- 
its.— A.  T.  Texas  papers  please  copy." 

She  always  kept  that  little  scrap  of  well  worn  newspaper  (cut 
from  a  25-cent  advertising  column)  among  her  sacred  treasures. 


582  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


I  think  the  advertisement  was  inserted  by  a  party,  walking  be- 
low, whose  attention  I  attracted  while  I  was  taking  exercise 
on  the  parapet  one  day,  and  to  whom,  without  consulting  the 
guard,  I  called  out:  "Let  Mrs.  Lubbock,  of  Texas,  know  that 
her  husband,  Col.  Frank  Lubbock,  is  here  a  prisoner  in  good 
health  and  spirits." 

I  wish  that  he  knew  that  this  little  piece  of  paper  was  far  more 
to  my  wife  than  all  the  handsome  notices  of  her  husband  that 
had  ever  been  in  print.  Those  she  lost ;  this  she  treasured.  Why 
don't  people  take  the  trouble  to  do  more  little  things  like  that, 
instead  of  wishing  for  millions,  to  make  the  human  race  happy? 

Prison  life  brings  about  strange  incidents.  It  also  sharpens 
one's  wits.  On  one  occasion,  while  walking  for  exercise,  I  saw  an 
old  newspaper  on  the  parapet,  near  the  gun-carriage.  It  had 
been  used  for  wiping  the  coal  tar  off  one  of  the  guns.  I  was 
watched  very  closely  by  the  guard,  and  at  that  time  was  not  al- 
lowed to  see  a  newspaper.  I  very  hurriedly  picked  it  up  and  put 
it  in  my  coat  pocket.  It  proved  a  great  comfort,  as  it  gave  me 
much  information  concerning  my  Confederate  friends.  It  gave 
a  full  account  of  the  escape  to  Florida  of  General  Breckenridge, 
Mr.  Benjamin,  and  Col.  Taylor  Wood,  and  much  other  welcome 
news. 

It  may  be  asked  how  I  got  to  read  it  when  I  was  so  closely 
guarded.  It  was  in  this  wise :  I  was  allowed  to  close  the  door 
when  bathing.  This  done,  I  would  get  in  the  tub  (a  large  half- 
cask  that  I  had  impressed  into  service)  and  read,  at  the  same 
time  making  a  great  splutter  in  the  water. 

On  another  occasion  the  soldier-convict  who  brought  me  my 
meals  presented  me,  although  he  said  it  was  contrary  to  orders, 
with  a  bologna  sausage  that  a  prisoner  had  sent  to  me.  I  placed 
it  away  to  be  eaten  at  a  more  convenient  season.  Upon  attempt- 
ing to  cut  it,  I  found  it  was  hollow  and  contained  something  in- 
stead of  sausage  meat.  I  immediately  concluded  to  take  a  bath, 
and  upon  testing  the  sausage  I  found  it  contained  many  feet  of 
newspaper  margin  written  all  over  in  pencil  with  great  news  for 
me.  It  was  sent  by  Burton  N.  Harrison,  Mr.  Davis'  private  sec- 
retary, who  had  been  brought  from  the  old  Capitol  prison,  at 
Washington.  D.  C.,  and  placed  in  Fort  Delaware.  He  knew  that 
I  was  in  the  fort,  but  I  did  not  know  that  he  had  been  trans- 
ferred there  until  he  gave  me  the  intelligence  in  my  bologna 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  583 


sausage,  together  with  other  information  quite  interesting  to  me. 
He  gave  me  a  most  satisfactory  account  of  the  escape  and  safe 
arrival  at  Havana  of  my  friends  and  companions, — General 
Breckenridge,  Mr.  Benjamin,  and  Col.  Taylor  Wood. 

After  being  in  prison  some  time,  and  while  walking  on  the 
parapet,  I  noticed  a  man  observing  me  intently  and  making  signs 
at  me.  I  discovered  they  were  Masonic  signs,  and  I  answered 
them. 

He  was  the  sutler  at  the  fort,  and  had  known  me  in  Texas. 
He  informed  General  Schoepff  that  I  was  a  Mason.  The  general 
called  on  me,  and,  after  satisfying  himself  that  I  was  a  member 
of  the  order,  said :  "If  you  have  money,  you  can  purchase  from 
the  sutler  such  articles  as  you  need  to  make  you  more  comfort- 
able. I  have  issued  to  you  the  rations  allowed  by  the  govern- 
ment." 

Not  wishing  to  let  him  know  that  I  had  money  secreted,  I 
answered,  "I  will  draw  on  my  friend  Mr.  J.  H.  Brower,  of  New 
York.' 

i  gave  him  the  check.  He  collected  the  money  and  gave  me 
from  time  to  time  the  amount  I  required.  I  at  once  commenced 
getting  coffee,  canned  vegetables,  and  fruits,  and  living  much 
better  that  when  I  was  limited  to  government  rations,  and  far 
better  than  when  I  was  a  Confederate  soldier.  But  to  win  our 
cause  it  would  have  been  sweet  to  live  on  husks.  That  it  was 
lost  was  the  only  hardship  worth  mentioning.  The  humanity 
of  the  surgeon  and  the  guards  had  given  me  a  bed  and  an  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  from  my  wife,  and  my  credit  in  New  York  was 
doing  the  rest;  and  I  felt  like  a  veritable  banker  with  my  little 
handful  of  money  still  secure  in  my  possession. 

When  the  $1500  was  given  me  for  safe  keeping  by  the  treas- 
urer, I  secreted  quite  an  amount  of  it  in  an  inner  pocket  of  my 
saddle-bags,  where,  without  close  inspection,  it  would  not  be  dis- 
covered, and  also  a  large  part  in  my  heavy  cavalry  boots,  which 
I  had  ripped  open  for  that  purpose.  It  made  my  boots  quite 
heavy,  and  when  walking  I  appeared  almost  lame.  Some  little  I 
secured  about  my  person.  The  remainder  I  rolled  well  and  put 
in  my  holsters. 

Had  they  taken  my  saddle-bags,  or  searched  me,  my  gold  would 
have  been  found.  Upon  going  into  prison  I  took  a  pair  of  der- 
ringers from  my  saddle-bags  and  some  other  things,  and  handing 


584  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


them  to  the  provost  marshal,  said:  "I  suppose  you  prefer  to 
take  care  of  these."  This,  I  suppose,  as  I  intended  it  should, 
prevented  him  from  entertaining  suspicions  that  would  have  in- 
duced him  to  search  me. 

My  life  in  prison  tested  my  strength  very  severely;  not  only 
because  I,  fond  of  companionship,  was  in  solitary  confinement 
without  amusement  of  any  kind,  but  because  I  had  no  employ- 
ment, who  am  constitutionally  and  by  habit  a  worker. 

I  kept  up  my  spirits,  however,  being  determined  to  stand  it 
like  a  man.  I  was  well  aware  that  this  period  of  durance  must 
come  to  an  end  in  a  few  months,  and  in  the  meantime  I  took 
kindly  to  the  occupations  and  pastimes  and  companions  that 
could  be  found  inside  my  prison  bars. 

One  good  thing  I  did  was  to  read  the  Bible  and  prayer  book 
through.  They  were  such  good  Christians  that  they  furnished 
these  before  they  gave  me  a  seat  or  a  bed.  But  in  those  days  I 
was  not  prepared  to  derive  the  pleasure  and  benefit  I  ought  to 
have  received  from  pious  reading  and  meditation.  Like  my 
friend  Moody's  man,  I  was  sure  there  is  a  "hell ;"  I  did  not  see 
the  "heaven"  so  clearly — and  all  the  charm  there  is  in  reading 
the  Bible  flows  from  a  knowledge  of  the  truth  that  there  is  a 
heaven.10** 

10Za  When  Col.  W.  L.  Moody,  of  Gregg's  regiment,  after  being  severely 
wounded  was  returning  home  from  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  he 
with  a  number  of  companions  drove  up  to  a  farm  house  near  Shreve- 
port,  La.,  hailed  the  owner,  and  inquired  if  he  could  get  some  fodder 
to  feed  his  mules.  The  farmer  seeing  they  were  soldiers,  and  fearing 
he  would  have  to  supply  fodder  without  remuneration,  commenced  at 
once  pleading  poverty,  that  he  was  a  poor  man  and  had  but  little 
fodder. 

Colonel  Moody,  in  his  quiet  preacher-like  way,  said  to  him:  "My 
friend,  I  knew  you  were  poor,  or  I  would  not  have  applied  to  you.  The 
poor  man,  always  kind  and  charitable,  expects  to  receive  his  reward  in 
heaven." 

"Heaven?  heaven?"  the  man  replied,  "I  dunno  about  that!" 

"Why,"  said  the  Colonel,  "don't  you  believe  there  is  a  heaven?" 

"Well,  I  dunno,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Do  you  not  believe,  then,"  asked  the  Colonel  sharply  and  severely, 
"there  is  a  hell?" 

"Oh  yes,  I  know  there  is  a  hell;  there  is  just  as  much  needcessity  for  a 
hell  n«for  a  jail  in  Shreveport."  (Shreveport  was  a  wild  place  in  those 
days.) 

This  reply  greatly  excited  the  risibility  of  the  home-going  Confed- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  585 


At  times  I  repeated  aloud  everything  that  my  memory  could 
recall, — prose  and  poetry.  When  opportunity  offered  I  talked  to 
the  guard  and  sometimes  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  an  answer. 
Noticing  a  few  mice  creeping  about  the  cell  when  they  thought 
I  was  asleep  or  would  not  see  them,  I  fed  and  tamed  the  little 
fellows  and  we  became  good  friends.  The  only  fault  I  found 
with  them  was  that  they  were  "quiet  as  mice."  I  polished  my 
boots  until  I  could  see  my  face  on  their  surface,  and  put  in  so 
much  time  washing  my  eating  vessels  that  I  chapped  my  hands 
and  made  them  bleed.  At  the  end  of  a  few  weeks  I  had  become 
so  expert  in  these  various  occupations  that  I  could  have  taken  a 
premium  over  many  a  professional  bootblack  or  dishwasher.  I 
bathed  very  frequently,  carrying  in  the  water  myself.  And  thus 
I  beguiled  the  weary  hours  of  my  prison  life  and  kept  them  from 
enfeebling  my  body,  enervating  my  mind,  or  depressing  my  nat- 
urally confident  and  bouyant  spirit.  The  consciousness,  too,  of 
having  done  no  wrong,  and  the  hope  of  better  things,  was  a 
mighty  and  sovereign  tonic  under  such  circumstances.  I  knew 
that  many  brave  companions  of  former  and  happier  days,  par- 
ticipants in  a  struggle  that  I  felt  assured  would  be  vindicated 
by  the  impartial  judgment  of  after  times,  were  like  circum- 
stanced, and  I  was  prepared  to  share  their  fate,  whatever  it 
might  be. 

A  Philadelphia  paper  in  speaking  of  Col.  Preston  Johnston, 
described  him  as  being  a  tall,  commanding-looking  man,  with 
large  gray  eyes,  and  military  mien.  "While  enjoying  his  morning 
walk  on  the  rampart,"  said  the  paper,  "he  moves  very  rapidly 
to  and  fro,  evidently  determined  that  his  health  shall  not  suffer 
for  all  the  exercise  he  can  get."  In  the  same  article  appeared  a 
long  reference  to  myself  in  which  occurred  the  following :  "It  is 
strictly  prohibited  to  have  any  intercourse  with  State,  or  in  fact 
any  other  prisoners  at  the  fort;  but  as  the  commandant  per- 
mitted the  writer  to  go  where  he  pleased,  he  strained  a  point  and 
passed  a  few  hurried  words  with  Colonel  Lubbock.  The  colonel 
stated  that  he  had  not  been  permitted  to  see  a  newspaper  since  his 
capture."  Then  follows  a  sketch  of  myself  as  a  member  of  Mr. 

erates,  and  they  greeted  it  with  a  generous  guffaw,  produced  money, 
bought  what  fodder  they  needed  for  their  horses,  and  resumed  their 
journey. 


586  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Davis'  staff,  and  my  account  of  our  capture,  the  article  conclud- 
ing thus:  "Colonel  Lubbock  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the 
manner  of  his  treatment  while  in  our  hands,  and  is  evidently 
made  as  comfortable  as  possible  under  the  circumstances.  He 
is  permitted  to  take  a  walk  for  half  an  hour  each  morning  on  the 
parapet  of  the  fort,103  attended  by  a  guard.  On  these  occasions 
he  dons  a  rebel  colonel's  coat,  with  three  stars  on  the  collar,  a 
well-worn  pair  of  buckskin  gloves  and  military  cap,  and,  thus 
attended,  slowly  parades  the  parapet  during  the  allotted  time. 
He  is  apparently  about  50  years  of  age;  .  .  .  gray  eyes; 
mustache,  and  short,  thick-set  figure.  He  is  evidently  a  man  of 
education,  and  very  courteous  and  gentlemanly  in  his  manners.'* 

I  received  a  visit  or  two  during  the  latter  part  of  my  imprison- 
ment. One  was  from  Mrs.  Rhodes,  of  California.  Her  husband 
was  United  States  consul  at  Galveston  during  the  days  of  the 
Republic.  She  was  a  friend  of  mine  and  esteemed  my  brother 
Tom  most  highly.  She  gave  me  a  beautiful  Texas  star  of  the 
Texas  Terry  rangers.104  I  gave  her  in  return  one  of  my  colonel's 
stars,  and  also  one  to  Mrs.  Schoepff,  wife  of  the  commandant  of 
the  fort. 

At  length  my  brother,  Capt.  Henry  S.  Lubbock,  was  permitted 
to  visit  me  with  a  view  to  securing  my  speedy  release.  He,  how- 
ever, accomplished  little.  He  informed  me  that  many  charges 
had  been  filed  against  me  at  Washington,  alleging  that,  while  I 
was  Governor,  I  had  been  cruel  to  the  Union  men  of  Texas  and 
had  even  caused  many  of  them  to  be  killed, — a  foul  and  base 
fabrication,  that  probably  originated  with  the  Union  men  in 
Texas,  one  of  whom,  so  I  was  informed,  stated  that  I  would  not 
be  permitted  to  return  to  the  State,  and  whom,  it  is  a  great 
gratification  to  me  to  record,  I  made  a  canvass  against  some 
years  later  in  behalf  of  a  Democratic  opponent  of  his  for  Con- 
gress, who  was  for  the  Union  during  the  war,  but  kept  his  alle- 

108  Mr.  J.  H.  Colvin,  of  the  Fourth  Texas  regiment,  now  one  of  the 
Travis  county  commissioners,  has  told  the  editor  that  while  at  Fort 
Delaware  a  prisoner  he  frequently  saw  Colonel  Lubbock  walking  on  the 
parapet.— ED. 

104 1  regret  to  say  that  I  lost  this  memento  many  years  later  while  on 
a  trip  through  Texas  with  Mr.  Davis. 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  587 


glance  to  Texas,  and  who  was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  ma- 
jority at  the  polls.105 

From  brother  Henry  I  learned  several  interesting  items  from 
Texas :  Governor  Murrah's  call  for  a  State  convention ;  its  fail- 
ure to  meet  and  the  Governor's  retirement  to  Mexico;  General 
Granger's  proclamation,  from  Galveston,  of  freedom  to  the 
slaves;  the  arrival  of  Gen.  A.  J.  Hamilton  in  Texas  and  his 
entrance  upon  his  duties  of  Provisional  Governor ;  that  all  voters, 
under  the  new  regime,  had  to  take  the  following  oath :  "I,  A.  B., 
do  solemnly  swear,  or  affirm,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty  God, 
that  I  will  henceforth  faithfully  support  and  defend  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  and  the  Union  of  the  States  there- 
under, and  that  I  will,  in  like  manner,  abide  by  and  faithfully 
support  all  laws  and  proclamations  which  have  been  made  during 
the  existing  rebellion  with  reference  to  the  emancipation  of  the 
slaves,  so  help  me  God ;"  that  all  the  Confederates  in  Texas  were 
subscribing  to  the  oath  as  a  qualification  for  the  duties  of  citizen- 
ship, and  showing  by  their  actions  an  acquiescence  in  the  new 
order  of  things ;  and  that  President  Johnson's  policy  of  restoring 
the  State  to  its  place  in  the  Union  with  as  little  delay  as  possible 
was  being  cheerfully  supported  by  Texans. 

I  never  did  understand  why  I  was  detained  after  the  general 
discharge  of  Confederate  officers.  It  might  have  been  to  use  me 
as  a  witness  in  the  contemplated  trial  of  Mr.  Davis  for  treason. 
I  knew  that  no  charges  could  be  sustained  against  me  as  the 
executive  of  Texas  or  as  a  Confederate  officer,  and,  confident  of 
this,  I  determined  to  interview  the  general  commanding  in  my 
own  behalf.  At  my  request  he  visited  me.  I  suggested  to  him 
that  there  must  be  some  mistake  about  my  retention  in  prison; 
that  all  officers  had  been  released,  and  I  had  come  to  the  con- 
clusion that  the  government  of  the  United  States  did  not  know 
that  I  was  a  prisoner,  and  that  I  had  a  family  and  some  creditors 
that  would  like  to  see  me  in  Texas,  where  I  could  be  of  some 
benefit  to  them.  He  replied  that  the  government  was  well  aware 
of  my  imprisonment,  adding :  "I  do  not  know  but  that  any  day 
I  may  receive  an  order  to  have  you  shot."  Like  some  of  the  pub- 
lic prints,  perhaps  he  thought  the  government  might  see  proper 

106  Governor  Lubbock  refers  to  E.  J.  Davis,  who  was  a  candidate  for 
Congress  against  Hon.  John  Hancock. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  strike  terror  in  the  hearts  of  our  people  by  the  execution  of  a 
certain  number  of  prominent  Confederates. 

Whatever  he  meant,  I  met  him  half  way.  "I  see  that  the  gov- 
ernment is  visiting  upon  the  people  of  the  South  great  hardships, 
loss  of  citizenship,  and  other  cruelties,"  I  replied.  "Now,  if  the 
authorities  in  power  wish  to  punish  somebody,  why  not  select  a 
few  of  the  distinguished  men  of  the  South  from  each  State  and 
shoot  or  hang  them,  relieving  the  masses;  and  should  they  see 
proper  to  select  me  as  one  from  Texas,  I  am  ready  and  willing. 
It  would  make  good  reading  in  history." 

He  then  said :  "I  can  do  no  good  writing  to  the  Secretary  of 
War.  He  will  communicate  about  you  in  due  time." 

I  concluded  the  interview  by  asking  permission  to  write  my- 
self. He  assented,  and  about  the  1st  of  November,  1865,  I  wrote 
to  Mr.  Stanton,  in  substance,  who  I  was ;  my  rank  in  the  army ; 
how  I  was  captured  (that  I  was  captured  with  my  uniform  on, 
performing  the  duties  of  an  officer)  ;  that  I  had  heard  there  were 
charges  preferred  against  me  and  on  file;  that  if  such  was  the 
case,  I  desired  to  be  taken  to  Washington  at  once  and  confronted 
with  the  accusation  and  my  accusers ;  that  there  was  no  founda- 
tion in  fact  back  of  the  charges;  that  my  being  longer  kept  in 
confinement  could  be  of  no  possible  service  to  the  government, 
but  on  the  contrary  would  entail  useless  expense;  and,  lastly, 
that  ]  wished  to  return  to  my  home  to  support  my  family  and 
to  pay  my  debts. 

The  Masons  also  took  prompt  measures  in  my  favor,  forward- 
ing papers  by  a  Mason  to  the  order  in  Washington  City  in  order 
that  they  might  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  government. 
This  caused  my  wife  to  look  with  favor  upon  my  Masonic  friends, 
and  when  I  was  released  and  returned  to  tell  her  that  I  had  re- 
ceived many  benefits  from  being  a  member  of  the  order,  she 
seemed  to  relent,  and  from  that  time  to  her  death  she  appeared 
reconciled  to  Masonry,  much  to  my  gratification. 

In  about  three  weeks  General  Schoepff  received  an  order  to 
discharge  me.  I  was  given  no  explanation  of  the  whys  and 
wherefores  of  my  long  detention  or  of  my  liberation,  and  I  asked 
none.106 

ioe  The  news  soon  spread  by  wire  to  Houston.  The  Telegraph,  in  an- 
nouncing my  liberation  in  its  issue  of  November  27,  1865,  said:  "We 
are  exceedingly  gratified  to  be  able  to  inform  our  readers  that  ex-Gov- 


LUBBOCK' S  MEMOIRS.  589 


The  things  that  I  surrendered  were  all  returned  to  me  on  my 
leaving  the  prison,  with  the  exception  of  a  fine  gold  pen,  which 
was  reported  lost.  The  derringers  I  presented  to  Mr.  W.  B. 
Wortham  after  I  became  State  Treasurer. 

I  divided  the  gold  with  those  of  my  companions  captured  with 
me  who  needed  money, — good  Confederates,  who  served  from 
first  to  last.  I  found  no  Confederate  government  to  which  I 
could  report  when  I  was  discharged  from  prison,  and  the  Federal 
government  had  no  right  whatever  to  it.  Our  party  made  no 
terms  of  surrender.  The  amount  left  on  hand  would  not  pay 
me  for  my  Kentucky  horse,  taken  when  I  was  captured.107 

Judge  John  H.  Reagan,  who  was  released  several  months  be- 
fore I  was,  said  to  me  in  the  course  of  conversation  not  long 
since:  "When  calling  upon  President  Johnson,  immediately 
after  my  release,  to  get  my  parole  papers  changed,  I  asked  for 
permission  to  visit  Mr.  Davis,  which  was  denied.  I  also  asked 
for  your  release,  whereupon  Mr.  Johnson  told  me  that  you  were 
charged  with  murder.  I  immediately  answered :  'Governor 
Lubbock  is  incapable  of  such  a  thing,  and  I  demand  for  him  a 
trial.  He  can  disprove  the  charges.' ''  No  doubt  what  Reagan 
said  helped  to  influence  those  in  authority  to  release  me  without 
going  through  the  troublesome  farce  of  a  trial.  My  good  friend 
Reagan,  God  bless  him  I  was  as  true  to  me  then  as  when,  a  few 
months  before,  he  stood  ready,  with  hand  under  his  coat  on  his 
sixshooter,  to  take  a  part  if  the  miserable  fellows  who  tried  to 
rob  me  after  I  was  captured  had  attempted  to  kill  me,  as  they 
threatened. 

I  was  held  in  solitary  confinement  in  one  of  the  iron-bound 
rooms  of  Fort  Delaware,  with  guards  over  me  the  entire  time,  for 
about  eight  months. 

I  have  described  how  the  rich  government  of  the  United  States 
treated  her  prisoners  after  the  restoration  of  peace ;  and  yet  some 
of  their  officials  and  people  are  still  harping  upon  and  abusing 

ernor  Lubbock,  of  this  State,  who  has  been  confined  in  Fort  Delaware 
ever  since  last  May,  was  released  on  parole  last  Thursday  and  is  now, 
we  hope  and  trust,  on  his  way  home.  He  will  be  welcomed  by  many 
warm  friends  with  sincere  joy." 

107 1  do  not  know  whether  or  not  the  story  got  out  years  later  (during 
my  canvass  for  State  Treasurer),  of  the  obstinacy  with  which  I  protected 
that  government  gold.  If  it  did,  I  doubt  not  it  got  me  many  a  vote. 


590  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


the  Confederate  authorities  for  not  feeding  the  Federal  prisoners 
with  fare  that  many  of  our  best  citizens  and  soldiers  could  not 
command  during  the  war,  and  this,  too,  notwithstanding  the 
well-known  facts  that  our  ports  were  closed,  our  country  devas- 
tated, and  that  we  persistently,  but  unsuccessfully,  demanded  an 
exchange.  I  think  it  is  about  time  for  these  senseless  detractors 
of  the  South  to  cease  their  railing,  for  the  more  the  matter  is 
probed  the  more  will  be  the  discredit  reflected  on  the  Federal 
authorities. 

When  my  mind  reverts  to  Major  Wirz,  whom  they  hung  for 
cruelty  to  prisoners  at  Andersonville,  who  struggled  to  do  the 
best  he  could  for  his  prisoners  while  our  army  was  suffering  for 
food  and  medicines,108  and  who  refused  at  the  last  day  a  respite 
offered  to  him  if  he  would  implicate  Mr.  Davis  in  the  alleged 
severities  at  Andersonville,  saying  "I  would  not,  to  save  my  life, 
tell  a  falsehood,"  I  am  convinced  that  many  a  man  has  been  wor- 
shiped who  was  not  made  of  as  good  hero-stuff  as  he. 

When  I  was  discharged  I  was  furnished,  at  my  request,  with 
transportation  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  where  I  wished  to  have 
my  parole  papers  changed.  Immediately  upon  my  release  I 
started  for  Washington,  by  way  of  Wilmington  and  Baltimore, 
in  company  with  my  brother  Henry.  We  arrived  there  at  6 :30 
a.  m.  the  following  day  and  registered  at  Delmonico's,  on  Penn- 
sylvania Avenue.  On  the  25th,  after  consultation  with  a  Texas 
friend,  George  White,  I  decided  to  call  on  Secretary  of  War 
Stanton.  Presenting  myself  without  introduction  to  the  adju- 
tant-general in  charge  of  his  office,  I  asked  to  see  the  Secretary. 
The  adjutant  told  me  that  if  I  would  wait  he  would  secure  me 
an  interview ;  that  Mr.  Stanton  was  very  busy  with  General  But- 
ler and  Governor  Hahn. 

The  ante-room  was  full  of  people  who  had  come  in  before  me; 
but  I  had  no  other  business,  and  took  a  seat  to  bide  my  time.  In 
a  short  while  the  Louisiana  ghouls  (Butler  and  Halm)  came  out, 
and  the  adjutant-general  very  kindly  gave  me  precedence  of 
others  in  waiting,  and  showed  me  into  Mr.  Stanton.  I  told  the 
Secretary  my  parole  required  me  to  go  to  Houston  and  there  to 
remain,  subject  to  the  orders  of  the  President.  I  explained  to 

108  They  even  refused  to  allow  us  to  purchase  medicines  within  their 
lines  for  pold,  or  to  send  medicines  to  us  to  be  used  exclusively  for  their 
own  prisoners  and  to  be  administered  by  their  own  surgeons. 


LUBE  OCX'S  MEMOIRS.  591 


him  that  I  was  a  farmer  and  cattle  dealer,  and  lived  in  the  coun- 
try, and  had  no  home  at  Houston.  He  accordingly  changed  the 
papers.  Finding 'him  well  disposed,  I  told  him  I  would  prob- 
ably resume  my  former  business,  and  if  so  I  would  wish  to  visit 
New  Orleans  frequently.  He  then  incorporated  that  permission 
in  my  papers,  whereupon  I  thanked  him  and  bade  him  adieu. 

My  Texas  friends,  A.  W.  Terrell  and  others,  then  in  Washing- 
ton, were  greatly  surprised  at  my  success  in  being  so  promptly 
accorded  what  I  requested. 

Among  others  whom  I  met  in  Washington  were  Simeon  Hart ; 
Judge  Lem  D.  Evans,  who  had  very  kindly  interested  himself  in 
my  case;  my  friend  Tom  Howard  and  his  family,  and  Judge 
Burnet,  who  expressed  himself  as  delighted  at  seeing  me  at 
liberty. 

The  next  thing  was  to  have  my  transportation  changed.  It 
provided  for  a  sea  voyage  from  New  York  to  Galveston.  My 
friend  Maj.  Tom  Howard  accompanied  me  to  the  quartermaster- 
general,  who,  after  some  persuasion  on  my  part,  gave  me  railroad 
transportation  to  Cairo,  111.,  steamboat  transportation  to  New 
Orleans,  and  ship  passage  from  the  latter  place  to  Galveston. 

On  the  27th  Henry  left  for  Philadelphia  en  route  home.109 

The  28th  being  cabinet  day,  I  failed  to  see  President  Johnson, 
but  on  the  29th  had  a  short  interview  with  him.  His  reception 
of  me  was  kindly  and  cordial,  and  in  parting  he  told  me  to  go 
home  and  do  the  best  I  could  "to  harmonize  the  people  and  for- 
get the  past." 

I  took  the  train  for  New  York  at  11 :30  a.  m.,  December  1st, 
reached  the  city  at  6  :30  p.  m.,  registered  at  the  New  York  Hotel, 
and,  taking  a  stroll  about  town,  met  many  Texans.  I  visited 
Central  Park,  Brooklyn,  and  other  points  of  interest  on  the  3d, 
did  some  shopping  on  the  4th,  and  at  9  a.  m.  on  the  5th  left  for 
Cairo,  via  the  Jersey  Central  Eailway,  and  was  at  last  fairly  on 
my  way  home,  to  which  my  heart  fondly  turned,  and  from  which 
I  had  now  been  absent  more  than  two  years. 

Passing  through  Harrisburg,  Pittsburg,  and  Cincinnati,  I  ar- 
rived at  Cairo  at  6  p.  m.  on  the  7th,  and  went  at  once  on  board 
the  steamboat  E.  W.  Arthur. 

One  of  my  fellow  passengers  down  the  Mississippi  was  Hon. 

109 1  did  not  see  my  brother  Henry  till  I  reached  Texas. 


592  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


A,  J .  Donelson,  United  States  charge  d'affaires  in  Texas  during 
the  days  of  the  Republic,  prominent  in  connection  with  annexa- 
tion, and  a  very  pleasant  gentleman  and  traveling  companion. 

After  a  safe  and  tolerably  pleasant  journey  I  arrived  in  Gal- 
veston.  From  thence  I  proceeded  to  Houston,  and  had  a  most 
happy  meeting  with  Mrs.  Lubbock  on  Saturday,  December  16, 
1865.  I  found  her  pleasantly  situated  in  Commodore  Leon 
Smith's  house,  which  she  jointly  occupied  with  Mrs.  James 
Reiley. 

Thus  ended  my  captivity  and  long  absence  from  home.  I  was 
once  more  on  Texas  soil.  My  old  friends,  including  E.  H.  Gush- 
ing, former  editor  of  the  Telegraph,1™  gave  me  a  most  hearty 
welcome  back  to  Texas ;  but  the  changed  aspect  of  things  revived 
the  past  and  made  me  sad.  The  din  of  war  had  ceased  and  the 
blue  had  supplanted  the  gray.  Everywhere  United  States  sol- 
diers could  be  seen  moving  around  with  the  air  of  conquerors, 
and  we,  the  once  free  citizens  of  once  free  Texas,  could  only  speak 
of  governmental  affairs  with  bated  breath.  The  streets  of  Hous- 
ton and  other  cities  in  the  State  were  crowded  with  lazy  negroes, 
coming  to  the  military  headquarters  for  rations,  clothing,  and 
everything  else  they  could  secure.  The  long  war  with  a  close 
blockade  had  deprived  our  people  of  many  necessaries  of  civilized 
life,  and  on  its  termination  there  was  a  large  importation  of 
goods  which  sold  readily  at  high  prices  in  greenbacks.  Texans 
found  markets  for  their  stock,  and  there  was  a  general  revival  of 
business. 

I  very  soon,  however,  realized  it  was  not  the  Texas  I  had  left, 
and  in  many  respects  T  was  not  the  same  Texan. 

A  stray  copy  of  the  Mexican  Times  falling  into  my  hands,  I 
was  surprised  to  learn  that  ex-Gov.  Henry  W.  Allen,  of  Louis- 
iana, was  its  editor,  and,  in  reading  further,  to  learn  that  Senor 
M.  F.  Maury,  of  scientific  and  Confederate  fame,  was  chief  of 
colonization  in  Maximilian's  empire,  and  that  our  gallant  Gen. 

I 1  °  The  Houston  Telegraph  of  December  18,  1865,  contained  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"We  had  the  pleasure  on  Saturday  of  welcoming  home  our  friend 
F.  R.  Lubbock,  who  is  just  released  from  Fort  Delaware.  He  comes 
home  in  good  health  and  spirits  and,  according  to  the  New  York  Herald, 
a  loyal  supporter  of  the  Union.  Like  other  arrant  and  rampant  rebels, 
he  is  glad  to  get  out  of  war,  out  of  politics,  and  out  of  public  life.  His 
many  friends  will  join  us  in  bidding  him  a  hearty  welcome  home." 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  593 


J.  B.  Magruder  was  also  a  sefior  in  the  empire  and  chief  of  the 
Colonization  Land  Office.  There  also  appeared  in  the  paper  no- 
tices of  General  Price,  Judge  Perkins,  of  Louisiana;  ex-Gover- 
nors Hurrah,  of  Texas,  Polk,  of  Missouri,  and  Harris,  of  Tennes- 
see, who,  accepting  the  inducements  held  out  by  Maximilian,  had 
settled  in  Mexico ;  and  a  glowing  circular  from  Chief  of  Colon- 
ization Maury  as  to  the  advantages  of  living  in  Mexico  and  the 
improving  prospects  of  the  empire,  stating  in  reference  to  Con- 
federate colonies :  "Bryant,  from  Arkansas,  has  established  a 
colony  in  Chihuahua;  Mitchell,  of  Missouri,  another  on  the  Rio 
Verde,  in  the  department  of  San  Luis  Potosi;  and  Terry,  of 
Texas,  another  in  Jalisco.  They  rent  at  first,  with  the  privilege 
of  purchase  at  a  future  time  at  a  stated  price." 

Col.  A.  W.  Terrell  was  a  participant  in  this  emigration  of  Con- 
federate officers  to  Mexico.  When  I  met  him  at  Washington  he 
had  but  recently  returned  from  that  country.  Confederate  colon- 
ists, perhaps,  would  have  saved  the  empire,  had  Maximilian  been 
true  to  his  pledges;  but  under  the  influence  of  his  Mexican  ad- 
visers, who  dreaded  all  Americans,  whether  Federal  or  Confed- 
erate, the  emperor  became  jealous,  and  failed  in  good  faith  to  his 
immigrants.  The  colony  soon  fell  to  pieces.  The  empire  did  not 
long  survive. 

Gov.  Z.  B.  Vance,  of  North  Carolina,  said,  in  1865,  to  the 
ex-Confederate  soldiers : 

"The  best  test  of  the  best  heroism  now,  is  a  cheerful  and  loyal 
submission  to  the  powers  and  events  established  by  our  defeat 
and  a  ready  obedience  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  our  coun- 
try. .  .  .  The  greatest  campaign  for  which  soldiers  ever 
buckled  on  armor  is  now  before  you.  The  drum  beats  and  the 
bugle  sounds  to  arms  to  repel  invading  poverty  and  destitution, 
which  have  seized  our  strongholds  and  are  waging  war,  cruel  and 
ruthless,  upon  our  women  and  children.  .  .  .  The  noblest 
soldier  now  is  he  that,  with  ox  and  plow,  pitches  his  tent  against 
the  waste  places  of  his  fire-blasted  home  and  swears  that  from  its 
ruins  shall  arise  another  like  unto  it.  ...  This  is  a  be- 
sieging of  fate  itself;  a  hand  to  hand  struggle  with  the  stern 
columns  of  calamity  and  despair;  but  the  God  of  Nature  hath 
promised  that  it  shall  not  fail  when  courage,  faith,  and  industry 
sustain  the  assailant." 

This  was  the  common  sentiment  of  all  our  great  leaders,  and 
38 


594  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


events  proved  that  it  was  also  shared  by  the  private  soldiers. 
Eschewing  politics,  the  old  Confederates  went  to  work  with  a 
will  to  repair  their  shattered  fortunes. 

If  their  love  of  country,  bravery  in  battle,  endurance  in  camp 
and  on  the  march,  and  Spartan  fortitude  in  the  hour  of  disaster 
are  sufficient  to  challenge  the  admiration  of  all  time,  the  wonder- 
ful racial  reserve  force  and  capability  of  meeting  and  surmount- 
ing hard  conditions  that  they  now  displayed  and  that  soon 
enabled  them  to  turn  defeat  into  practical  victory,  and  to  lay 
the  foundations  for  a  new  and  more  opulent  civilization,  domi- 
nated by  themselves,  despite  every  effort  of  the  victors  to  prevent 
it,  make  them  greater  than  their  conquerors.  In  making  up  the 
final  verdict  of  history,  all  this  will  be  accepted  as  conclusive 
evidence  that  as  a  people  they  might  be  conquered  on  the  battle- 
field by  force  of  overwhelming  numbers,  but  that  in  the  domain 
of  mind  they  were  the  arbiters  of  their  own  destinies,  and  in- 
vincible. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  f>95 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-THREE. 

Beginning  Life  Anew — Settlement  of  Debts  —  Removal  to  Galveston  — 
Beef  Packery  —  Heavy  Losses  —  Business  Tour  to  Europe — With  Ex- 
President  Davis  in  Britain  and  France — Return  Home. 

Mrs.  Lubbock  and  I,  as  well  as  others,  had  to  begin  anew.  We 
had  no  home,  as  our  dwelling  had  been  burned ;  our  negroes  were 
all  gone;  but  our  land  remained,  and  several  thousand  head  of 
cattle.  Surely  many  others,  thought  I,  are  in  a  worse  condition. 
Besides,  I  am  healthy  and  strong  and  only  50  years  of  age,  and 
have  time  enough  left  me,  perhaps,  to  attain  our  former  station. 
A  canvass  was  going  on  for  the  convention  called  by  Governor 
Hamilton,  but  I  took  no  part  in  that,  for  I  was  disfranchised, 
and  was  busy  day  and  night  with  my  private  affairs. 

Having  determined  to  first  look  after  my  cattle  interests,  I 
secured  board  at  Mrs.  Harris',  in  Harrisburg,  whither  we  re- 
moved in  a  few  weeks.  This  was  convenient  enough,  my  ranch 
being  only  three  miles  distant. 

I  soon  tired  of  ranch  life,  and,  having  a  competent  stock- 
keeper,  I  determined  to  return  to  Houston  and  start  an  auction 
and  commission  business. 

My  adopted  son,  T.  U.  Lubbock,  was  doing  nothing,  and  to 
give  him  an  opportunity,  I  associated  him  with  me  and  estab- 
lished the  house  of  F.  R.  Lubbock  &  Son.  I  rented  a  small  house 
for  us  to  live  in,  he  having  married  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
war. 

Afterwards  I  procured  sufficient  lumber  from  brother  Henry, 
on  a  debt,  to  build  a  residence,  and  paid  for  its  erection  $150, 
and  we  all  occupied  it.  This  was  a  considerable  let  down  from 
the  executive  mansion,  but  it  was  a  satisfaction  to  me  to  know 
that  I  owed  no  man  for  a  fine  house,  like  many  others,  and  that 
I  lived  entirely  within  my  income.  The  greatest  expense  I  had 
to  meet  was  the  storehouse  rent.  That  was  $200  per  month — for 
a  one-story  brick,  twenty-five  by  eighty  feet. 

I  struggled  along,  however,  doing  a  small  business  and  living 
economically.  I  had  no  help  but  the  occasional  service  of  a  negro 
boy.  During  the  first  year  I  had  no  fire  in  the  store  and  I  did 
not  keep  a  chair  for  fear  of  loafers.  An  auction  and  commission 


596  LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


business  has  a  great  attraction  for  idlers.  I  was  determined  not 
to  furnish  them  any  special  inducements,  and  in  carrying  out 
that  determination  had  to  deny  myself  some  comforts. 

I  was  heavily  in  debt  and  my  creditors  began  to  press  me  for 
payment.  The  chief  creditor  was  my  brother,  Capt.  Wm.  M. 
Lubbock,  from  whom  I  had  borrowed  $15,000  in  gold  before  the 
war  and  invested  it  in  cattle.  I  offered  at  $12,000,  in  part  pay- 
ment, my  property  in  the  city  of  Houston,  still  known  as  Lub- 
bock's  Grove.  I  refused  $10,000  for  it,  and  delivered  to  him  3000 
head  of  cattle  in  full  liquidation  of  the  debt.  This  payment  and 
others  seriously  affected  my  stock  interests ;  but  it  was  very  grati- 
fying to  know  that  I  owed  no  man  anything. 

The  auction  business  at  Houston  not  proving  profitable,  I 
went  to  Galveston,  opened  a  house  there  under  the  same  firm 
name,  in  connection  with  the  Houston  house,  and  was  shortly 
thereafter  honored  by  election  to  the  presidency  of  the  Galveston 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Some  years  later  I.  had  a  lot  of  cattle  rendered  at  the  Dickin- 
son Bayou  Packery,  run  by  P.  A.  Huffman.  The  tallow,  hides, 
and  beef  hams  found  a  ready  market,  and,  the  enterprise  proving 
very  successful,  I  determined  to  extend  operations  with  Huff- 
man as  manager,  and,  carrying  out  that  purpose,  established  a 
beef  packery  at  old  Anahuac,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Trinity.  I 
sold  my  cattle  ranch  and  horses  to  procure  the  necessary  capital 
to  embark  in  these  ventures.  I  had  to  entrust  the  management 
of  the  packery  entirely  to  others,  and  in  two  years  time  lost  more 
than  $40,000.  The  accumulations  of  years  swept  away,  I  had 
to  begin  anew  the  struggle  for  financial  independence.  Fortu- 
nately, at  this  unpropitious  juncture  in  my  affairs,  I  obtained 
remunerative  employment  with  my  friends  Allen,  Poole  &  Co., 
large  stockholders  in  the  New  York  and  Texas  Beef  Preserving 
Company.  I  secured  several  valuable  contracts  for  them  from 
the  United  States  naval  authorities,  and,  in  pursuance  of  a  mis- 
sion entrusted  to  me  by  them,  set  sail  for  Europe  on  the  Cunard 
steamer  Scotia,  in  July,  1872,  accompanied  by  my  wife.111 

111  Mr.  Clemens  (Mark  Twain)  was  a  passenger  aboard  the  vessel. 
The  impression  made  upon  me  by  his  person  and  manner  was  not  flat- 
tering-. He  was,  however,  represented  as  an  invalid,  and  I  could  readily 
believe  that  he  was.  I  think  his  liver  must  have  hurt  him  all  the  way 
over,  for  he  was  very  cross  about  everything.  I  most  certainly  would 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  597 


Arriving  in  Liverpool  and  securing  quarters  at  an  excellent 
hotel,  I  called  at  once  on  Messrs.  C.  Grimshaw  &  Co.,  a  large  and 
respectable  commission  house  that  had  existed  for  over  fifty 
years,  and  to  whom  I  had  letters.  Mr.  Thompson  and  Mr.  Lang- 
ham,  who  then  constituted  the  firm,  showed  me  many  appreciated 
attentions,  readily  entered  into  a  contract  to  handle  our  goods, 
and  made  me  a  liberal  advance.  We  made  several  pleasant  ac- 
quaintances in  Liverpool,  among  others  that  of  the  German  con- 
sul, Mr.  Stoess  (from  Alsace  and  Lorraine),  who  married  Mrs. 
Jefferson  Davis'  youngest  sister,  Miss  Maggie  Howell,  whom  I  was 
indeed  glad  to  meet  again.  They  had  a  beautiful  residence  ad- 
joining an  extensive  and  well  kept  park,  and  seemed  never  to  tire 
in  their  efforts  to  contribute  to  our  pleasure.  Mrs.  Mcllhenny, 
the  widowed  sister  of  my  friend  Judge  George  Goldthwaite,  of 
Houston,  was  keeping  house  in  Liverpool,  and  made  things  cheer- 
ful for  us.  Mrs.  Thompson  lived  at  a  lovely  little  town  near  Liv- 
erpool, where  many  of  the  merchants'  families  resided.  I  became 
quite  enamored  with  Liverpool ;  such  a  busy  place,  with  its  ship- 
ping and  traffic  and  extensive  public  docks ;  there  was  a  business 
air,  a  rush  and  bustle  about  the  city  that  captivated  me.  I  found 
many  Americans  there  engaged  in  trade — a  number  of  them  ex- 
Confederates,  and  doing  well. 

After  a  trip  into  Wales  I  proceeded  to  London  over  a  line  of 
splendidly  constructed  railway,  the  tracks  thoroughly  ballasted 
and  resting  upon  a  roadbed  of  almost  solid  rock. 

I  was  favorably  impressed  with  the  evident  precautions  taken 
by  the  railway  company  (a  type  of  the  others,  I  suppose)  to  pre- 
vent loss  of  life  and  accidents  and  to  promote  the  comfort  of 
travelers.  I  was  informed  that  every  passenger  aboard  was  guar- 
anteed a  seat — a  comfortable  arm  chair.  Another  agreeable  fea- 
ture was  the  uniform  courtesy  of  the  railway  employes  (which 
might  well  be  enjoined  and  sedulously  patterned  after  in  other 
lands). 

The  immensity  of  London  has  been  often  described,  but  can 
only  be  appreciated  by  those  who  for  the  first  time  visit  the 

never  have  taken  him  for  the  great  humorist  he  is  and  the  entertaining 
writer  we  know  him  to  be.  He  was  a  great  disputant  on  the  ship,  he 
and  the  captain  often  having  serious  discussions  at  the  table;  and  when- 
ever he  was  beaten  at  cards,  quoits,  or  any  other  of  the  many  games 
played  at  sea,  he,  became  impatient  and  morose. 


698  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


world's  great  metropolis.  Greater  than  Babylon  or  Nineveh  of 
old,  there  goes  up  from  it  during  the  busy  hours  of  labor  the 
mingled  roar  of  countless  industries. 

A  great  traveler  has  said  that  he  felt  more  lonely  in  the  streets 
of  London  than  in  the  solitudes  that  surround  Lake  Albert  Ny- 
anza.  This,  however,  was  not  my  experience.  Business  affairs 
required  much  of  my  attention.  These  disposed  of,  Mrs.  Lub- 
bock  and  I  devoted  a  portion  of  our  time  to  paying  and  receiving 
calls,  and  what  was  left,  outside  of  the  hours  of  rest,  we  employed 
in  sight-seeing,  making  numerous  excursions  on  the  underground 
railway  and  visiting  the  Tower,  St.  Paul's,  Westminister  Abbey, 
Parliament  House,  the  Crystal  Palace,  Zoological  Gardens,  and 
a  thousand  and  one  objects  and  places  of  interest  that,  to  those 
who  see  them  for  the  first  time,  lead  the  tourist  on  with  an  un- 
satiated  and  growing  curiosity. 

My  favorable  opinion  of  England  and  the  English  people  was 
greatly  strengthened.  It  is  certainly  a  well  governed  land,  a  land 
of  law  as  well  as  liberty,  abreast  in  social  institutions  and  com- 
mercial methods  with  the  spirit  of  the  age. 

We  went  from  London  to  Calais,  and  thence  to  Paris.112  We 
arrived  in  the  city  at  night.  The  streets  were  brilliantly  lighted. 
Everywhere  were  to  be  seen  vestiges  of  the  late  war  with  Prussia 
—in  the  mutilation  or  destruction  of  public  buildings  and  works 
of  art.  Each  day  of  our  stay,  after  business  matters  were  at- 
tended to,  Mrs.  Lubbock  and  I  hired  a  cab  and  drove  about  visit- 
ing places  of  interest,  and  in  that  way  acquired  in  a  short  time 
an  excellent  knowledge  of  the  city.  Mrs.  Lubbock  greatly  en- 
joyed these  excursions,  the  more  so  as  her  father  was  a  Parisian 
and  she  spoke  French  fluently. 

I  was  pleased  to  meet  in  Paris  Col.  A.  Dudley  Mann,  formerly 
Assistant  Secretary  of  State  under  President  Buchanan,  and  later 
one  of  our  Confederate  agents  abroad.  Expatriating  himself 
after  the  war,  he  had  become  a  permanent  resident  of  the  French 

111 1  have  crossed  and  recrossed  the  Atlantic  Ocean  several  times;  I 
have  made  many  voyages  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  in  all  my  life  I 
have  never  seen  such  sea  sickness  as  I  witnessed  in  crossing  the  English 
Channel  on  this  occasion.  Mrs.  Lubbock  and  I,  clothed  in  sou'westors, 
occupied  seats  on  the  deck  of  the  vessel,  although  it  was  repeatedly 
swept  by  heavy  seas,  preferring  such  discomfort  to  being  cooped  up  in 
the  stifling  and  ill-smelling  cabin. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  599 


capital.  He  called  upon  us  often  and  showed  us  many  kind  at- 
tentions. 

From  France,  extending  our  tour  through  Brussels,  a  minia- 
ture Paris,  we  passed  over  Belgium  (the  old  battlefield  of  Eu- 
rope) to  the  new  German  empire.  Cologne  and  Strasburg  were 
found  to  be  very  interesting  cities,  the  latter  specially  noted  for 
its  great  cathedral  and  clock.  Hurriedly  visiting  Bremen  and 
Hamburg,  cities  of  historic  renown,  we  then  domiciled  for  a  while 
at  Berlin,  the  great  German  capital. 

Germany  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful  of  modern  nations. 
Prussia,  the  controlling  power  in  the  empire,  sprung  into  prom- 
inence in  the  eighteenth  century  under  the  wise  administration 
of  Frederick  the  Great.  With  checkered  fortunes,  she  has  been 
ever  since  forging  to  the  front.  By  her  victories  over  Austria  in 
1866,  she  seized  the  first  place  in  the  Germanic  confederacy,  ex- 
cluding her  beaten  rival.  Her  magnificent  triumph  over  France 
in  1870  cemented  her  power  in  the  unification  of  Germany,  with 
Prussia  at  the  head — a  consummation  due  to  Bismarck's  states- 
manship, Von  Moltke's  generalship,  the  unconquerable  valor  of 
the  German  armies,  and  the  wisdom  of  King  Wilhelm.  At  this 
time  (1900)  Germany  has  extensive  colonies  in  Africa  and  else- 
where, a  great  navy  to  guard  her  world-wide  interests,  and  is 
acknowledged  to  be  the  first  power  in  continental  Europe. 

The  German  army  numbers  about  800,000  men,  but  the  mili- 
tary budget  costs  the  Germans  less  than  what  we  pay  for  pen- 
sions. 

We  returned  from  Germany  to  Paris,  and  thence  to  Liverpool ; 
set  sail  for  the  United  States  in  December,  1872 ;  reached  New 
York  without  special  incident,  and  in  due  time  were  once  more 
ensconced  in  our  pleasant  Texas  home. 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  Mr.  Davis  in  New  York  City 
in  July,  1873,  and  it  transpired  that  it  was  his  intention,  as  well 
as  mine,  to  make  a  trip  to  Europe;  but,  that  while  I  was  to  sail 
from  New  York  at  a  time  uncertain,  he  would  return  home  and 
shortly  thereafter  take  a  French  or  German  steamer  at  New 
Orleans.  So  we  agreed  that  we  would  meet  in  England. 

I  called  at  his  rooms  July  12th,  and  before  I  left  he  handed  me 
a  photograph  of  himself  and  the  folloAving  note  to  Mrs.  Lubbock : 

"Dear  Mrs.  Lubbock :  Allow  me  to  offer  to  your  acceptance, 
as  a  friend  who  may  be  willing  to  preserve  it,  a  picture  of  myself, 


GOO 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  if  it  ever  looks  at  you  with  less  than  the  most  affectionate 
regard,  be  sure  it  is  not  true  to  the  original.  My  true  and  gallant 
friend,  your  husband,  who  will  hand  it  to  you,  can  give  you  its 
history.  Ever  sincerely  and  most  respectfully,  Jefferson  Davis." 
The  accompanying  engraving  is  a  reproduction  of  this  picture 
of  Mr.  Davis  and  of  a  photograph  of  Winnie  Davis  taken  about 
the  same  time. 


JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


The  history  of  the  photograph  of  Mr.  Davis  is  as  follows :  The 
card  of  a  lady  was  sent  up  to  him,  and  on  being  invited  in  she 
handed  him  the  picture,  saying  that  she  had  colored  it  and  con- 
sidered it  a  fine  piece  of  work;  that  she  had  prepared  it  ex- 
pressly for  him,  and  thought  it  was  worth  five  dollars.  He  with- 
out hesitation  gave  her  the  money.  She  thanked  him  and  im- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  601 


mediately  left.  He  then  turned  to  me,  said  that  she  was  prob- 
ably in  distress,  and,  if  his  surmise  was  correct,  he  was  very  glad 
that  he  had  been  able  to  help  her,  wrote  the  note  to  Mrs.  Lub- 
bock  and  handed  it  to  me,  together  with  the  photo.  Airs.  Lub- 
bock  greatly  prized  the  picture  and  always  gave  it  the  place  of 
honor  in  our  home, — a  place  that  it  has  ever  since  retained. 

I  left  New  York  in  December,  and  in  due  time  reached  Liver- 
pool, where  I  found  Mr.  Davis  with  Mrs.  Stoess  and  family.  We 
later  went  to  London  and  thence  to  Paris.  In  the  former  city 
we  had  the  pleasure  of  dining  with  Judah  P.  Benjamin  and  of 
hearing  him  spoken  of  everywhere  as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in 
England.  In  Paris  Mr.  Davis  was  the  guest  of  Col.  A.  Dudley 
Mann,  and  I  secured  apartments  near  by.  The  first  Sunday  we 
were  there  I  called  after  my  early  meal,  supposing  Mr.  Davis 
would  wish  to  attend  church,  knowing  it  to  be  his  constant  habit. 
Upon  inquiry  I  found  they  were  not  going  out,  and  they  invited 
me  to  remain,  as  the  service  would  be  held  in  the  house.  The 
Episcopal  service  was  read  and  religious  conversation  indulged 
in.  The  explanation  given  me  for  not  attending  church  was  that 
during  the  war  the  Episcopal  clergyman,  through  the  influence 
of  the  United  States  minister  (Mr.  Dayton),  refused  to  recog- 
nize the  Confederacy  in  his  prayers,  thereby  offending  Confed- 
erate sympathizers.  Colonel  Mann  determined  never  to  put  his 
foot  in  the  Episcopal  church  at  Paris  again,  and  I  presume  he 
never  did.  Mr.  Davis  and  I  attended  services  at  the  Madeline 
the  following  Sunday,  one  of  the  most  elegant  of  the  many  fine 
church  edifices  in  the  city.  It  is  said  to  be  able  to  accommodate 
10,000  people.  A  few  seats  appeared  to  be  reserved  for  mem- 
bers, and  for  others  chairs  were  furnished,  for  which  the  charge 
was  one  and  two  sous,  according  to  locality.  The  music  was 
grand.  On  the  occasion  of  our  attendance,  in  addition  to  the 
immense  organ,  they  had  a  fine  string  band. 

Marshal  MacMahon  was  President  of  France;  Louis  Joseph 
Buffet,  president  of  the  Assembly  (consisting  of  738  members), 
then  in  session.  We  were  present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Assembly 
when  some  important  question  was  under  discussion.  We  had 
cards  that  procured  us  good  seats.  The  hall  was  crowded  with 
ladies.  I  have  witnessed  proceedings  in  the  gold  room  of  the 
stock  exchange  in  New  York,  the  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
State  Legislatures,  and  many  Democratic  conventions ;  but  I  wit- 


602  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


nessed  more  excitement,  heard  more  noise,  and  saw  more  fierce 
demonstrations  of  apparent  anger  in  the  French  Assembly  that 
day  than  I  had  ever  seen  before  at  any  public  gathering.  There 
were  no  blows  exchanged,  however,  and,  while  it  seemed  to  me 
that  some  of  the  members  must  inevitably  come  together,  noth- 
ing of  a  tragic  nature  occurred,  much  to  my  relief,  and  the  ses- 
sion came  to  a  close  in  a  whirlwind  of  gesticulations  and  deafen- 
ing vociferations.  A  deep  calm  succeeded,  frowns  disappeared 
from  the  faces  of  the  members,  and  all  gaily  repaired  to  the  near- 
est cafes  for  refection. 

Mr.  Davis  had  several  pleasant  friends  in  Paris  with  whom 
he  passed  the  time ;  among  them  Major  Weston,  a  Baltimorean, 
who  had  been  one  of  our  agents  abroad  during  the  war,  and  Mr. 
Erlanger,  a  banker,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Davis' 
friend,  John  Slidell,  of  Louisiana. 

I  met  here,  also,  Prince  Polignac,  one  of  our  Confederate 
generals,  distinguished  in  the  Eed  Kiver  campaign.  After  the 
war  between  the  States  he  returned  to  France  and  lent  his  sword 
to  his  country  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  He  seemed  glad  to 
see  me  and  referred  pleasantly  to  some  incidents  connected  with 
our  campaigning  together  in  Louisiana. 

Mr.  Davis  and  I  returned  to  London,  where  I  left  him  and 
went  on  to  Liverpool,  it  being  understood  that  he  would  join  me 
there,  and  we  would  then  go  by  sea  to  Glasgow,  Scotland. 

In  pursuance  of  this  agreement  we  in  due  time  found  our- 
selves in  Glasgow,  guests  of  Mr.  James  Smith,  who  many  years 
before  had  been  a  near  neighbor  of  Mr.  Davis  in  Mississippi,  had 
returned  to  Scotland  prior  to  1861,  and  grown  wealthy  there,  and 
during  the  war  sent  Mr.  Davis  several  fine  cannon  and  equip- 
ments as  a  present  to  the  Confederate  States.  Mr.  Smith  and 
his  family  of  grown  sons  and  daughters  were  charming  people, 
and  our  visit  to  them  was  one  continued  round  of  pleasure. 

We  visited  many  noted  spots  in  Scotland,  called  on  the  Misses 
Begg,  nieces  of  the  poet  Burns,  at  their  pretty  cottage  near  Kirk 
Alloway,  viewed  the  ship  yards  on  the  Clyde,  and,  as  we  joiir- 
neyed  from  place  to  place,  Mr.  Davis  greatly  added  to  the  pleas- 
ure I  experienced  by  his  familiarity  with  Scottish  history,  poetry, 
and  fiction — especially  his  many  and  apt  quotations  from  the 
writings  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  who,  more  than  any  other,  has 


LUB BOOTS  MEMOIRS.  603 


woven  a  halo  of  romantic  interest  around  everything  pertaining 
to  Scotland. 

We  returned  safely  to  Liverpool.  After  remaining  there  some 
time  I  bade  Mr.  Davis  good-bye,  as  he  preferred  going  direct  to 
New  Orleans,  and  I  was  compelled  to  return  to  New  York. 

I  arrived  safely  in  New  York  after  a  stormy  voyage,  and 
reached  Galveston  much  improved  in  health  by  my  seven  months' 
trip  abroad. 

While  I  had  made  large  sales  in  England  and  Germany,  where 
I  spent  pleasant  weeks,  and  had  put  in  very  good  shape  the 
project  of  getting  up  the  limited  company  that  my  employers 
desired  to  organize,  the  latter  undertaking  was  not  completed  be- 
fore the  firm  of  Allen,  Poole  &  Co.  failed,  and  that  brought  the 
entire  business  to  an  end. 


604  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER   THIRTY-FOUR. 

Reconstruction  —  Restoration  of  White  Supremacy  —  Tax  Collector  — 
Ex-President  Davis  in  Texas  —  His  Welcome  at  Dallas  —  A  Candidate 
Again— Troubles  in  Van  Zandt  County  —  Democratic  Ticket  in  1878— 
Elected  State  Treasurer. 

I  am  not  disposed  to  write  of  the  times  when  Texas  was  writh- 
ing under  the  heel  of  military  despotism  and  vultures  were  prey- 
ing upon  her  vitals.113  Let  it  suffice  to  say  for  this  gloomy 
period,  that  the  people  of  Texas  in  convention  assembled  at  Aus- 
tin, in  1865,  accepted  President  Johnson's  policy;  acknowledged 
the  supremacy  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States ;  repealed 
the  ordinance  of  secession;  repudiated  the  Texas  war  debt,  and 
modified  the  Constitution  to  suit  the  changed  condition  of  the 
negroes;  that  a  State  government  was  organized,  with  the  con- 
servative J.  W.  Throckmorton  as  Governor,  and  United  States 
senators  and  congressmen  elected ;  that  the  Republican  majority 
in  both  houses  of  Congress  refused  to  admit  our  delegates  to 
their  seats  on  account  of  their  being  Democrats ;  that  the  domi- 
nant party  overthrew  all  the  State  governments,  including  ours, 
erected  under  the  authority  of  President  Johnson,  and  remanded 
them  to  military  rule,  our  State  officials  being  supplanted  by 
military  appointees;  and  that  the  congressional  plan  of  recon- 
structing the  Union  contemplated  Republican  ascendancy  at 

118  One  of  her  wisest  and  most  skillful  defenders  then  was  Col.  R.  W. 
Loughery,  owner  and  editor  of  the  Daily  Times  at  Jefferson,  and  the 
Texas  Republican  at  Marshall,  an  able  and  daring  writer,  whose  papers 
exposed  and  denounced  every  iniquity  that  was  practiced  or  attempted, 
brought  about  the  downfall  of  the  military  commission  established  at 
Jefferson  to  try  citizens  by  drum-head  courtmartial,  and  aided  greatly 
in  the  overthrow  of  the  Davis  regime  and  in  hastening  the  restoration 
of  control  of  the  State  government  to  the  people.  He  had  been  editor 
of  the  Texas  Republican  from  1840,  was  one  of  those  who  organized  the 
Democratic  party  in  Texas  in  1850,  had  attained  wide  influence  and 
reputation  before  the  war,  and  did  some  good  newspaper  work  in  the 
later  years  of  his  life,  but  his  most  brilliant  labors  and  services  were 
performed  during  the  reconstruction  era.  These  should  never  be  for- 
gotten. He  was  born  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  2,  1820;  came  to 
Texas  in  1848 ;  was  consul  at  Acapulco,  Mexico,  during  Cleveland's  first 
administration,  and  died  April  26,  1894,  at  Marshall,  Texas. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  605 


every  cost  in  all  the  States  under  military  rule.  In  the  prelimin- 
ary steps  of  congressional  reconstruction,  intelligence  and  worth 
were  proscribed  and  a  premium  put  on  ignorance  and  barbarism. 
All  discriminations  were  against  the  white  race.  The  negroes  voted 
en  masse,  and  enough  whites  were  disfranchised  to  ensure  a  Re- 
publican majority  in  the  convention.  At  the  election  for  State 
officers  under  the  new  Constitution  E.  J.  Davis  was  counted  in 
for  Governor  by  the  exclusion  of  several  Democratic  counties  that 
gave  majorities  for  A.  J.  Hamilton.  The  Republican  State  gov- 
ernment under  Davis  and  the  Twelfth  Legislature113*1  were  the 
most  intolerable  ever  known  in  Texas.  Venality  and  tyranny  were 
rampant,  all  the  safeguards  of  liberty  were  overthrown,  the  peo- 
ple harassed  by  a  negro  police,  and  property  threatened  finally 
with  confiscation.  The  taxpayers'  convention  at  Austin  in  Sep- 
tember, 1871,  composed  of  representative  men  without  distinc- 
tion of  party,  exposed  the  maladministration  of  the  Republican 
party,  and  published  their  report  to  the  world.  In  consequence 
of  this,  relief  began  in  the  Thirteenth  Legislature  in  the  repeal 
or  modification  of  the  more  odious  laws.  In  the  election  of  1873 
Richard  Coke  and  R.  B.  Hubbard,  the  Democratic  standard  bear- 
ers, were,  respectively,  chosen  Governor  and  Lieuten  ant-Gover- 
nor by  about  50,000  majority.  The  Republicans,  to  retain  power, 
trumped  up  a  case  of  illegal  voting  and  brought  it  before  the 
Supreme  Court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus.  The  pliant  court, 
assuming  jurisdiction,  rendered  the  opinion  desired,  viz. :  that 
the  election  was  illegal  and  that  no  offense  had  been  committed. 
The  Fourteenth  Legislature,  despite  a  prohibitory  order  of  Gov- 
ernor Davis,  met  at  the  capitol  and  proceeded  to  organize.  Davis 
appealed  to  President  Grant  for  military  aid,  and,  when  his  call 
for  United  States  troops  was  refused,  delivered  the  election  re- 
turns to  a  committee  of  the  Legislature  and  retired  from  the  con- 
test. Richard  Coke  was  declared  the  Governor-elect  on  the  count 
of  the  votes  and  at  once  inaugurated,  night  though  it  was. 

The  morning  of  January  14,  1874,  dawned  upon  Texas  re- 
deemed from  radical  rule,  upon  Texas  free  and  at  peace  for  the 
first  time  since  1861.  "With  the  restoration  of  white  supremacy 

lisa  yet  there  were  some  good  men  in  this  Legislature;  among  these, 
Ira  Evans,  the  Speaker  of  the  House,  who  was  deposed  from  his  office 
for  refusing  to  countenance  the  revolutionary  schemes  of  'his  party. 
Mr.  Evans  is  at  this  time  a  prominent  and  honored  citizen  of  Austin. 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  Democratic  rule,  Texas  started  anew  on  a  prosperous  career. 
For  this  deliverance  we  are  under  perpetual  obligations  to  the 
Northern  Democracy,  who  sympathized  with  us  in  our  oppres- 
sion and  helped  us  in  our  struggle  every  way  they  could.  All 
honor  to  the  liberty-loving  Democracy  of  the  North ! 

In  1875  an  election  came  on  for  the  selection  of  a  mayor  for 
the  city  of  Galveston.    Colonel  Cannon,  Colonel  Stone,  Captain 


F.  R.  LUBBOCK,  GALVESTON. 

Fulton,  and  Mr.  Leonard  were  spoken  of  in  that  connection. 
Several  of  my  friends  desired  me  to  run  for  the  Democratic 
nomination,  and  1  consented.  A  question  arose  as  to  what 
method  should  be  adopted  in  making  the  nomination.  My 
friends  generally  favored  the  old-time  convention,  while  Fulton's 
friends  wanted  a  primary  election.  When  the  latter  method  was 
adopted,  Cannon  and  Stone  withdrew  from  the  race,  and  Leon- 
ard would  not  submit  his  name  to  be  voted  on  in  the  primary.  So 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  607 


that  left  the  race  between  Fulton  and  myself,  Leonard  reserving 
himself  as  an  independent  candidate. 

I  went  into  the  contest  with  the  hearty  support  of  many  strong 
friends  and  with  good  prospects  of  success ;  but  the  old  story  of 
my  having  once  advised  the  burning  of  Galveston,  and  that  my 
heart  was  really  in  Houston,  being  revived,  I  was  beaten  and 
Captain  Fulton  was  declared  the  choice  of  the  Democratic  party 
as  a  candidate  for  mayor  of  the  city. 

Leonard  had  been  mayor  several  times,  was  very  popular,  and 
it  required  prompt  and  united  action  to  defeat  him.  Many  of 
my  supporters,  charging  fraud  in  the  election,  urged  me  to  run 
as  an  independent  candidate.  Of  course  I  refused.  Having 
taken  my  chances  at  the  primary  election,  I  told  them  there  was 
but  one  course  for  me  to  pursue,  and  that  was  to  declare  myself 
positively  for  the  Democratic  nominee  and  support  him  heartily. 
Accordingly,  that  very  night  we  had  a  grand  turnout  at  a  meet- 
ing at  which  George  Mason,  Colonel  Cannon,  Seth  Shepard, 
Colonel  Stone,  and  myself  delivered  speeches  urging  the  people 
to  elect  Fulton.  Some  of  my  friends  were  a  little  vexed  then, 
but  they  soon  saw  that  my  policy  was  the  better  one.  Fulton  was 
elected  March,  1875,  and  in  a  few  days  afterwards  sent  a  mes- 
sage, by  a  friend,  tendering  me  the  tax-collectorship  of  the  city, 
and  stating  that  he  hoped  I  would  accept.  I  accepted,  and  filled 
the  place  under  Fulton  and  his  successor,  Stone,  for  three  years. 

On  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Davis'  visit  to  Texas  in  May,  1875,  I 
bade  him  welcome  at  Galveston  and  attended  him  to  Houston, 
where  he  was  the  guest  of  Major  Franklin  for  several  days.  At 
Austin  the  ex-President  was  received  with  every  demonstration 
of  respect  by  all  classes  of  people. 

While  in  the  city  Mr.  Davis,  attended  by  Judge  Terrell  and 
myself,  visited  the  State  cemetery.  The  ex-President  stood  alone 
for  some  moments  by  the  grave  of  Gen.  A.  S.  Johnston,  con- 
templating it  in  silence.  The  general  and  ex-President  were  very 
close  friends  in  life,  and  Mr.  Davis  may  have  been  thinking  of 
the  virtues  of  the  dead  hero  and  of  the  loss  to  the  Confederacy 
by  his  martyrdom  to  the  cause.  Judge  Terrell  and  myself  re- 
mained at  a  respectful  distance,  and  when  Mr.  Davis  rejoined 
us  his  eyes  were  moist  with  tears,  occasioned  perhaps  by  sad 
memories  of  the  past. 

At  Dallas  he  was  given  a  royal  reception.     The  people  made 


608  LUBBOCtCS  MEMOIRS. 


the  day  of  his  arrival  a  gala  day.  The  public  buildings  were 
handsomely  decorated,  and  numerous  floral  arches  adorned  the 
streets.  One  of  the  arches,  I  remember,  contained  the  inscrip- 
tion "God  Bless  Jeff  Davis,"  and  others  displayed  similarly  ap- 
propriate mottoes.  He  was  received  at  the  depot  by  a  reception 
committee  consisting  of  the  mayor,  other  city  officials,  and 
prominent  citizens,  and  escorted  to  an  elegant  barouche,  which 
moved  to  the  head  of  the  long  civic  and  military  procession  that 
had  been  formed,  and  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  Mc- 
Coy's Grove,  the  bands  playing  the  enlivening  patriotic  and  mar- 
tial airs  of  the  Southland  and  the  people  cheering  at  every  step 
as  the  brilliant  column  advanced  with  waving  banners,  and  be- 
neath falling  flowers  thrown  from  balconies. 

Gen.  John  J.  Good,  mayor  of  Dallas,  delivered  an  eloquent 
address  of  welcome,  to  which  Mr.  Davis  responded  in  his  easy 
and  stately  style — his  utterances  going  home  to  the  hearts  of  his 
auditors,  and  as  each  flowing  period  was  rounded,  calling  forth 
salvos  of  applause.  With  the  skill  of  a  great  orator,  and  in- 
spired by  genuine  love  for  the  State  and  its  people,  he  reviewed 
the  history  of  Texas,  and  paid  a  tribute  to  her  flag,  saying :  "A 
man  breathes  freer  and  deeper  under  the  Lone  Star  flag." 

Referring  to  the  fact  that  Texas  had  emerged  from  the  dark- 
ness of  the  reconstruction  era  and  was  once  more  a  member  of 
the  Union  and  was  controlled  by  her  own  people,  he  said  that  he 
hoped  the  Lone  Star  would  continue  forever  thereafter  to  glitter 
in  the  Federal  galaxy.  He  said  that  Texas  would  in  time  become 
a  great  exporting  country,  and  that  her  people  should  contend 
for  free  trade  and  farmers'  rights .;  that  when  that  time  arrived 
Buffalo  Bayou  would  probably  be  deepened,  as  the  River  Clyde 
had  been,  so  as  to  admit  the  largest  ships.  He  saw  bright  pros- 
pects for  the  people  and  country,  and  hoped  that  all  would  turn 
their  faces  toward  the  future  and  its  possibilities,  and  labor  to- 
gether to  a  common  end,  material  prosperity  and  the  mainten- 
ance of  a  government  of  liberty  and  law. 

I  followed  Mr.  Davis  in  a  brief  speech,  in  which  I  said  the 
people  of  the  South  revered  him  as  one  of  the  purest  and  noblest 
of  mankind ;  and  much  else  that  seemed  to  me  suitable  to  the 
occasion. 

Then,  while  the  band  was  playing  a  stirring  air,  H.  Goslin, 
color-sergeant  of  the  Lamar  Rifles,  bearing  the  United  States 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  609 


flag,  and  Sergeant  Cox,  of  the  Stonewall  Grays,  bearing  the 
Texas  flag,  advanced  to  the  stand,  whereupon  the  mayor  said 
that  they  represented  sides  that  were  opposed  in  the  late  war,  but 
that  "the  flag  of  the  United  States  is  now  the  flag  of  both  the 
blue  and  the  gray." 

Mr.  Davis,  being  called  for,  delivered  a  short  speech,  in  which 
he  said  that  the  brave  could  always  find  common  ground  to 
meet  upon;  that  it  was  only  the  camp  follower,  the  thief,  and 
the  murderer  that  rob  the  dead  and  pursue  the  living;  that  if 
animosities  still  remained,  they  had  been  engendered  not  by  what 
had  been  done  in  the  conduct  of  honorable  warfare,  but  by  the 
perpetration  of  outrages  that  shocked  humanity;  that  chivalry 
should  be  the  star  to  light  the  pathway  of  war ;  that  the  United 
States  flag  was  the  creation  of  Southern  men — our  Moultrie  and 
Washington — and  was  not,  as  some  had  said  in  a  former  time, 
when  maligning  the  Southern  people,  an  emblem  of  bleeding 
stripes,  bruised  flesh,  and  scalding  tears,  an  ensign  of  oppression, 
and  a  cloak  for  crimes, — and  never  had  been  till  diverted  from 
its  purpose.  "I  marched  many  years  under  its  folds,"  said  he, 
"as  my  father  before  me  had  done  in  the  revolutionary  war.  I 
could  not  go  against  it.  It  was  borne  against  us  in  violation  of 
the  Constitution.  It  should  have  been  laid  away  during  the  war 
and  used  by  neither  side.  God  grant  that  it  may  never  again 
wave  over  a  battlefield  of  divided  Americans ! 

"The  name  of  Lamar114  is  familiar  to  me.  I  suppose  your 
company  is  named  in  honor  of  Mirabeau  B.  Lamar.  At  Monte- 
rey, with  a  bright  red  vest,  heedless  of  danger,  he  rushed  into 
the  thickest  of  the  fray,  and,  with  the  cry  of  'Brave  boys,  Ameri- 
cans are  never  afraid !'  at  the  head  of  the  gallant  Second  regi- 
ment, charged  home  to  victory.  He  was  an  ideal  Texan — a  man 
of  rare  genius  and  tender  affection.  You,  gentlemen,  wear  the 
blue;  the  Stonewalls  the  gray.  I  grew  up  in  the  blue;  but  I  love 
the  gray.  I  love  every  other  color,  but  I  love  the  gray  the  best. 
Your  positions  invoke  no  hostility,  but  a  generous  rivalry, — an 
emulation  which  can  best  perform  their  duty.  I  trust  we  shall 
always  have  peace;  but,  if  we  must  have  war,  let  both  go  to- 
gether and  stand  side  by  side.  ...  I  am  pleased  and  grati- 

114  This  encomium,  from   an   accomplished   soldier   like   Jefferson 
Davis,  should  be  considered  in  forming  an  estimate  of  Lamar. 
39 


610  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


fied  to  see  the  spirit  of  harmony  and  good  will  that  prevails,  and 
trust  that  it  may  never  be  broken.  May  you  and  all  prove  your- 
selves worthy  sons  of  this  bright  and  glorious  commonwealth/' 

The  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag"  was  then  played  by  the  band.  Crowds 
of  children  gathered  around  Mr.  Davis,  who  shook  their  hands 
and  spoke  kindly  words  of  greeting. 

Ex-Governor  Throckmorton  was  the  next  speaker.  He  said 
that  we  claimed  the  government  as  much  as  those  who  wore  the 
blue,  that  'the  story  of  the  heroism  displayed  by  both  sides  in  the 
great  struggle  was  the  heritage  and  common  property  of  the 
Americans  of  that  and  all  succeeding  generations,  and  that  it 
was  a  notable  event  and  augured  well  for  the  future  that  men  of 
the  North  and  the  South  had  met  together,  in  a  spirit  of  fra- 
ternity, to  welcome  a  great  and  noble  man,  who  had  been  the 
leader  in  a  cause  that  the  people  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line 
believed  to  be  right,  that  those  dwelling  beyond  that  boundary 
had  opposed,  and  that  had  been  lost  by  the  fortunes  of  war. 

Col.  F.  B.  Sexton  followed  ex-Governor  Throckmorton  in  a 
chaste  and  elegant  address,  which  was  liberally  punctuated  with 
applause  by  his  auditors,  and  adjournment  was  then  had  for 
dinner — a  sumptuous  meal  dispensed  by  Mrs.  J.  Peak,  Miss  Har- 
wood,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Stemmons,  Mrs.  Juliet  Fowler,  Mrs.  Tom 
Field,  Mrs.  Barthalow,  and  other  ladies. 

Among  the  noted  visitors  present  were  Gen.  Walter  P.  Lane, 
Col.  George  W.  Chilton,  Col.  Ed  Burleson,  Maj.  Thomas  Dugan, 
Capt.  W.  W.  Lang,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Hurt,  of  Sherman,  and  Mrs. 
Tabitha  Rhine,  of  McKinney. 

After  dinner  speeches  were  delivered  by  Capt.  Ed.  Q-.  Bower, 
of  the  Stonewall  Grays,  Gen.  R.  M.  Gano,  John  Henry  Brown, 
W.  L.  Cabell,  and  others. 

General  Gano  said  that  the  occasion  was  to  him  one  of  mingled 
pleasure  and  sorrow ;  that  it  recalled  old  times  and  old  faces  and 
contrasted  them  with  new;  that  he  had  the  day  before  received 
intelligence  of  the  death  of  Gen.  John  C.  Breckenridge ;  that  he 
had  long  known  and  honored  him,  and  loved  him  for  his  noble 
traits  of  character.  He  said  that  those  present  had  assembled 
to  honor  the  representative  of  the  great  Confederacy  with  which 
nearly  all  were,  at  one  time,  identified ;  that  they  had  not  met  to 
honor  him  for  his  devotion  to  a  lost  cause,  but  to  honor  moral 
worth  and  purity,  worthy  of  emulation.  He  stated  that  he  (Gen- 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  611 


eral  Gano)  had  resigned  a  seat  in  the  Legislature,  under  a  call 
from  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  and  served  under  him  on 
the  tented  field,  in  a  cause  the  justice  of  which,  with  him,  still 
remained  undoubted;  that  he  loved  Texas,  because  deeds  of 
worth,  of  gallantry,  and  of  duty  had  characterized  her  people  in 
an  epoch  that  tried  the  souls  of  men ;  and  that  he  believed  that  a 
future  lay  before  the  country  rich  with  promise.  He  adjured  all 
who  heard  him  to  hold  fast  to  the  sheet-anchor  of  correct  prin- 
ciples, and  the  young  men,  who  must  carry  forward  the  work  left 
uncompleted  by  hands  then  folded  across  quiet  breasts,  no  longer 
warmed  by  the  fires  of  life,  to  do  their  duty  in  the  coming  years 
as  conscientiously  and  bravely  as  their  fathers  had  in  the  past. 

General  Gano  was  loudly  cheered.  Not  an  incident  occurred 
to  mar  the  occasion.  It  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  of  a  pub- 
lic nature  in  which  I  ever  participated,  and  must  have  been 
deeply  gratifying  to  Mr.  Davis. 

Mr.  Davis  stopped  over  at  Marshall  on  his  way  to  his  home  at 
Memphis. 

The  honors  paid  him  during  his  stay  in  Texas  bore  witness  to 
the  fact  that  the  human  mind  can  not  be  fettered  by  might,  and 
that  the  frowns  of  those  in  power  can  not  prevent  a  free  people 
from  doing  honor  to  their  heroes,  uncrowned  though  they  be. 

As  Texas  was  now  free,  I  had  begun  to  take  interest  in  politics 
again.  The  Democratic  State  convention  was  held  at  Galveston 
in  January,  1876.  I  attended  it  as  a  delegate,  and  it  was  the  first 
time  I  had  participated  in  a  State  convention  since  the  one  held 
in  Galveston  in  1860,  just  prior  to  the  National  convention  at 
Charleston.  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  chairman  of  the  State  executive 
committee,  called  the  convention  to  order.  I  well  remember  that 
M.  D.  K.  Taylor  (incomparable  as  a  parliamentarian)  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  convention  with  his  usual  ability. 

On  the  rostrum  were  some  of  the  ancient  worthies  of  Texas: 
Joel  Eobinson,  one  of  the  captors  of  Santa  Anna;  a  hero  of  the 
Velasco  fight,  whose  name  I  can  not  now  recall;  S.  W.  Blount, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  Texas  declaration  of  independence ;  the 
old  veteran.  Bennet  Blake;  ex-Gov.  J.  W.  ("Smoky")  Hender- 
son, and  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith;  and,  representing  the  Texas  of  later 
times  (as  a  State),  were  Gen.  M.  D.  Ector,  Maj.  Joseph  D. 
Sayers,  now  (1900)  Governor  of  Texas,  and  Gen.  Braxton 


012  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Bragg,116  the  stately  ex-commander  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee, 
then  a  citizen  of  Texas. 

Coke  and  Hubbard  were  without  opposition  renominated  for 
Governor  and  Lieutenant-Governor ;  H.  H.  Boone,  for  Attorney- 
General  ;  Stephen,  H.  Darden,  for  Comptroller ;  A.  J.  Dorn,  for 
Treasurer ;  J.  J.  Groos,  for  Land  Commissioner ;  0.  M.  Eoberts, 
for  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  Geo.  F.  Moore  and 
Robert  S.  Gould,  for  associate  justices;  M.  D.  Ector,  C.  M.  Wink- 
ler,  and  Jno.  P.  White,  for  judges  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  pro- 
vided for  in  the  proposed  new  Constitution.  The  new  Constitu- 
tion to  be  voted  on  the  next  month  was  heartily  endorsed,  though 
that  was  not  made  a  party  test. 

Of  those  in  that  gathering  of  notable  men  I  recall  to  mind 
Geo.  W.  Chilton,  J.  M.  Hurt,  W.  H.  ("Howdy")  Martin,  J.  B. 
Chenoweth,  Geo.  N.  Aldredge,  Fred  Carlton,  and  Jno.  W.  Stay- 
ton,  among  the  presidential  electors  or  alternates;  and  W.  A. 
Wortham,  J.  J.  Hill,  William  Hudson,  T.  J.  Goree,-  Charles 
Stewart,  Chas.  L.  Cleveland,  C.  B.  Pearre,  X.  G.  Shelley,  Geo. 
McCormick,  C.  B.  Kilgore,  R.  M.  Wynne,  F.  B.  Sexton,  M.  H. 
Looney,  Adam  R.  Johnson,  and  Joseph  Dwyer  on  the  executive 
committee,  or  otherwise  prominent. 

The  Democratic  ticket  won  at  the  polls  by  an  overwhelming 
majority.  Coke  was  elected  to  the  Senate  shortly  after  his  in- 
auguration and,  on  taking  his  seat  in  that  body,  was  succeeded 

116  A  few  months  later  General  Hragg  died  from  a  stroke  of  apoplexy 
in  the  city  of  Galveston. 

118  In  1877  the  peace  of  the  State  was  seriously  threatened  by  a 
county  seat  dispute  in  Van  Zandt  County;  but  happily  the  conservative 
good  sense  of  the  people  there  prevented  any  bloodshed. 

In  counting  the  returns  of  the  election  held  for  determining  the 
county  seat,  several  boxes  were  thrown  out  on  account  of  irregularities, 
and  Wills  Point  was  declared  to  be  the  legal  county  seat.  The  records 
were  accordingly  removed  from  Canton  to  Wills  Point  by  order  of  the 
county  commissioners  court.  A  few  months  later  an  armed  force  of 
about  500  men  was  organized  at  Canton  and,  led  by  Hon.'T.  J.  Towles, 
a  member  of  the  Legislature,  moved  on  Wills  Point  with  a  view  of 
taking  possession  of  the  records  and  returning  them  to  Canton  by  force, 
if  necessary.  Troops  sent  by  Governor  Hubbard  went  to  the  aid  of  the 
county  authorities,  and  as  a  result  the  Cantonites  returned  to  their 
homes  and  the  records  remained  at  Wills  Point  till  thev  were  returned 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  613 


by  Hon.  Richard  B.  Hubbard,116  who  served  as  Governor  to  the 
end  of  the  constitutional  term. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Judge  C.  L.  Cleveland,  and  after  consul- 
tation with  Col.  W.  L.  Moody/17  Colonel  Jemison,  A.  J.  Walker, 
and  other  friends,  I  announced  myself  in  the  spring  of  1878  as  a 

to  Canton  by  order  of  the  commissioners  court,  after  a  decision  by  the 
Supreme  Court  that  there  was  no  law  in  force  at  the  time  for  holding  a 
county  seat  election.  The  editor  was  then  the  county  judge  of  Van 
Zandt  county. — ED. 

117  Col.  W.  L.  Moody,  of  Galveston,  a  Virginian  by  birth,  and  law 
graduate  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  came  to  Texas  in  1852,  and  after 
practicing  his  profession  for  two  years  at  Fairfield,  in  Freestone  County, 
engaged  in  merchandising  at  that  place  with  his  brothers,  David  J.  and 
Leroy  F.  Moody,  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  L.  Moody  &  Bros.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  war  between  the  States  he  raised  a  company,  which 
was  attached  to  the  Seventh  Texas  infantry,  better  known  as  Gregg's 
regiment,  and  after  Colonel  Gregg's  promotion  to  brigadier-general  be- 
came its  colonel.  He  was  severely  wounded  at  the  siege  of  Jackson, 
Miss.,  and  returned  to  Texas,  where  he  was  assigned  to  important  mili- 
tary duty.  He  moved  to  Galveston  in  1866,  where  for  some  years  he 
was  at  the  head  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Moody,  Bradley  &  Co.,  which 
did  an  extensive  and  prosperous  commission  business.  The  firm  was 
changed  to  Moody  &  Jemison,  one  of  the  leading  cotton  firms  of  Galves- 
ton, and  did  a  large  business  in  New  York.  Subsequently  this  firm 
was  merged  into  that  of  W.  L.  Moody  &  Co.  At  a  later  period  he  asso- 
ciated his  two  sons,  W.  L.  and  Frank,  with  him  under  the  same  firm 
name.  This  firm  has  since  retained  a  leading  position  in  the  commer- 
cial world,  and  is  now  conducting  a  large  cotton  and  oanking  business 
at  Galveston,  and  owns  and  operates  in  that  city  one  of  the  largest  cot- 
ton compresses  in  the  South. 

On  my  becoming  a  citizen  of  Galveston  in  1867  and  engaging  in  a 
small  commission  business  there,  Colonel  Moody  became  my  friend,  and 
much  of  my  time  was  spent  with  him  and  his  family.  I  soon  became 
much  attached  to  him.  I  considered  him  a  model  business  man,  full  of 
intelligence,  high  toned,  and  upright  in  all  of  his  business  relations.  As 
a  result  of  his  methods  of  fair  dealing,  his  firm  has  always  enjoyed  the 
patronage  and  confidence  of  the  planters,  and  for  years  has  perhaps  been 
the  recipient  of  more  business  directly  from  them  than  any  other  in  the 
State.  He  and  I  have  always  been  in  harmony  politically,  and  stood 
shoulder  to  shoulder  on  leading  questions,  while  many  of  my  other 
friends  have  drifted  from  their  Democratic  moorings.  Up  to  this  good 
hour  our  friendship  continues  unbroken. 

My  early  formed  estimate  of  his  character  remains  unchanged;  I 
know  of  none  whom  I  more  sincerely  respect.  I  have  been  a  witness 
to  his  many  virtues  and  seen  them  displayed  in  nearly  every  variety  of 


614  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


candidate  for  the  Democratic  nomination  for  State  Treasurer. 
There  were  five  candidates  in  the  field.  My  opponents  were  well 
known  and  capable  men, — all  good  business  men,  first-class  citi- 
zens, and  all  of  them  had  been  Confederate  soldiers. 

The  convention  met  at  Austin  July  17th,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  exciting  and  memorable  we  have  had  in  Texas.  It  was 
called  to  order  by  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  chairman  of  the  State  Dem- 
ocratic Executive  Committee.  The  temporary  officers  were: 
Chas.  Stewart,  chairman;  Lee  Hall,  sergeant-at-arms,  and  Col. 
B.  B.  Paddock,  secretary.  Permanent  organization  was  per- 
fected by  the  election  of  M.  D.  K.  Taylor  as  chairman,  George 
B.  Zimpelman  sergeant-at-arms,  and  John  Bookhout  secretary. 

The  candidates  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination  were  Hub- 
bard,  Throckmorton,  and  Lang, — the  first  then  occupying  the 
Governor's  chair,  the  second  strong  in  the  affections  of  the  peo- 
ple on  account  of  his  reconstruction  record,  and  the  last  named 
backed  by  a  strong  element  among  the  farmers  of  the  State. 
After  several  ballots  had  been  taken  Lang's  name  was  withdrawn. 

After  the  thirteenth  ballot,  which  showed  804  votes  for  Hub- 
bard  and  694  for  Throckmorton,  it  was  proposed  to  bring  Lang 
again  before  the  convention.  Maj.  W.  M.  ("Buck")  Walton,  in 
the  interest  of  Lang,  then  withdrew  Throckmorton  and  de- 
livered a  speech  in  opposition  to  Hubbard  that  was  made  up  of 
withering  invective.  Hubbard's  friends,  however,  still  stuck  to 
him,  the  fourteenth  ballot  showing  812  votes  for  him,  654  for 
Lang,  and  46  scattering.  Lang  was  again  withdrawn,  and  Judge 
T.  J.  Devine  put  in  nomination.  The  fifteenth  ballot  showed 
807  votes  for  Hubbard  and  637  for  Devine.  The  eighteenth  bal- 
lot (taken  on  Sunday)  stood,  Hubbard  907  and  Devine  594.  The 
delegates  now  becoming  restive  under  the  two-thirds  rule,  a  mo- 
tion was  made  to  substitute  for  it  the  majority  rule,  but  was 
withdrawn. 

Tt  now  being  apparent  that  a  nomination  could  not  be  made 
under  the  two-thirds  rule,  a  conference  committee  was  appointed 
at  caucus  meetings  held  by  the  supporters  of  Hubbard  and  De- 
vine  and  empowered  to  select  some  candidate  who  would  be  ac- 
ceptable to  both  factions.  Several  names  were  submitted  to  the 

circumstances  incident  to  political,  business,  and  social  life,  in  peace 
and  war,  through  a  period  of  nearly  half  a  century,  and  never  found 
him  wanting  in  anvthintr  to  be  expected  of  a  erentleman  and  patriot. 


LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  615 


committee.  The  first  ballot  taken  resulted  in  15  votes  for  John 
H.  Reagan,  2  for  W.  P.  Ballinger,  5  for  John  Ireland,  3  for  R.  Q. 
Mills,  1  for  0.  M.  Roberts,  and  1  for  Charles  Stewart.  The  De- 
vine  men  centering  on  Roberts  as  against  Reagan,  the  second  bal- 
lot stood:  Reagan  9,  Ireland  1,  Mills  2,  Roberts  16,  D.  B.  Cul- 
berson  1,  and  Stewart  1.  The  third  ballot  gave  Roberts  19  and 
Reagan  11;  the  fourth  ballot,  Roberts  18,  Reagan  13,  and  Mills 
1.  It  was  now  evident  that  no  man  could  be  brought  forward 
who  could  secure  the  support  of  two-thirds  of  the  committee, 
and  Roberts  having  several  times  received  a  majority  of  the 
votes,  the  committee  cut  the  Gordian  knot  by  unanimously  vot- 
ing, on  motion,  for  Roberts.  On  July  23d,  W.  H.  Herndon,  act- 
ing for  the  committee,  rose  in  the  convention  and  offered  the  fol- 
lowing resolution :  "Resolved,  that  the  names  of  Hon.  R.  B. 
Hubbard  and  the  Hon.  T.  J.  Devine  be  withdrawn  from  the  con- 
vention, and  that  hereafter  during  the  sessions  of  this  conven- 
tion no  name  heretofore  placed  in  nomination  for  the  position 
of  Governor  shall  be  brought  again  before  this  body." 

The  resolution  having  carried  and  the  names  ofTlubbard  and 
Devine  having  been  withdrawn,  Mr.  Herndon  placed  Roberts  in 
nomination,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  several  eulogistic  speeches 
made  in  his  behalf,  he  was  nominated  by  acclamation.  Joseph 
D.  Savers  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant-Governor  without  op- 
position and  by  a  unanimous  vote.  George  McCormick  was 
nominated  for  Attorney-General,  and  W.  C.  Walsh  for  Land 
Commissioner,  both  by  acclamation,  rival  candidates  having 
been  withdrawn. 

Next  came  nominations  for  State  Treasurer,  the  following 
being  put  forward  to  contest  with  me  for  the  honor :  Rufus  Y. 
King,  A.  S.  Roberts,  Y.  Smith,  and  A.  J.  Dorn. 

The  first  ballot  showed  370  votes  for  Dorn,  271  for  King,  163 
for  Roberts,  213  for  Smith,  and  482  for  Lubbock.  All  were 
withdrawn  after  the  first  ballot  except  Dorn  and  Lubbock.  On 
the  second  ballot  most  of  the  strength  of  those  who  had  been 
withdrawn  was  transferred  to  me,  and  this  fact  developing  as  the 
call  of  counties  progressed,  many  of  the  large  counties  that  had 
cast  their  vote  for  Dorn  changed  to  me,  and  when  the  call  had 
been  completed  and  before  the  secretaries  could  make  the  count 
and  enable  the  chairman  to  declare  the  result,  my  nomination 
was,  on  motion,  made  unanimous  and  by  acclamation. 


016  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


The  Republican  nominees  were  A.  B.  Norton  for  Governor  and 
Richard  Allen  (colored)  for  Lieutenant-Governor ;  and  those  of 
the  Greenbackers,  W.  H.  Hamman  for  Governor  and  J.  S.  Rains 
for  Lieutenant-Governor.  The  main  reform  (?)  that  the  Green- 
backers  advocated  was  the  making  of  the  greenback  dollar  a  legal 
tender  in  the  payment  of  all  debts,  public  and  private,  and  its 
issue  by  the  government  on  a  parity  with  gold  and  silver. 

The  Democratic  ticket  defeated  that  of  the  Greenbackers  at 
the  November  election  by  a  majority  of  over  100,000  votes.  Nor- 
ton and  Allen  received  only  about  20,000  votes. 

Before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  I  was  frequently  inter- 
terrogated  as  to  how  I  proposed  to  run  the  treasury,  and  whether, 
if  nominated  and  elected,  I  would  stop  speculation  in  warrants. 
I  replied  invariably  to  such  inquiries  that  I  would  run  it  for  the 
benefit  of  the  State,  with  justice  to  the  people,  fairly  and  impar- 
tially, and  that  there  would  be  no  further  speculation  in  State 
paper  if  I  could  prevent  it. 

I  made  a  very  general  canvass,  and  was  elected  along  with 
other  members  of  the  ticket. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  617 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-FIVE. 

Removal  to  Austin  —  The  State  Treasury —  Roberts,  Sayers,  and  the 
Public  Schools  —  Dr.  Cooper  — The  University  of  Texas —Agricultu- 
ral and  Mechanical  College  —  Ireland  —  Fence-Cutting  —  Ross  —  Pro- 
hibition—  Parsons'  Brigade  —  Elkhorn  Reunion  —  Railroad  Commis- 
sion—  Hogg — San  Antonio  Convention  —  Wortham  Treasurer  —  My 
Retirement  —  Ireland  and  the  Granite  Capitol  —  Davis  Memorial  Ser- 
vices. 

I  broke  up  housekeeping  in  Galveston  and  moved  to  Austin 
with  my  family  in  December,  1878,  and  rented  my  home  in 
Galveston,  stating  that  I  would  retain  my  citizenship  there.  I 
afterwards  voted,  at  each  recurring  biennial  election,  at  Galves- 
ton until  1892,  when,  under  the  system  of  registration  then 
adopted,  I  was  denied  that  right.  Since  that  time  I  have  voted 
at  Austin,  where  my  home  is,  with  whose  people  I  am  identified, 
and  where  I  will  probably  spend  my  remaining  years. 

Having  lived  in  Texas  from  the  early  days  of  the  republic  and 
watched  the  State  grow,  as  it  were,  from  infancy,  and  my  every 
heartstring  being  interwoven  with  those  of  a  people  to  whom  I 
am  indebted  for  so  many  kindnesses  and  who  have  so  often  testi- 
fied their  faith  in  me  by  entrusting  to  me  the  discharge  of  im- 
portant public  duties,  my  affections  take  in  the  whole  State  and 
people,  and  it  matters  little  where  my  home  is,  so  it  is  in  the 
Lone  Star  State.  I  naturally  retain  many  pleasant  recollections 
of  Houston  and  Galveston  and  of  old  friends  there,  and  I  feel 
an  equal  interest  in  Austin  and  her  people,  where  and  among 
whom  I  have  passed  pleasantly  many  years, — first  as  a  public 
official  and  since  as  a  private  citizen,  in  all  relations  the  recipient 
of  many  and  highly  prized  evidences  of  esteem. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Major  Dorn  I  made  my  headquarters 
at  his  office.  By  January,  1879,  when  I  entered  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  my  duties  as  State  Treasurer,  I  had  become,  through 
information  vouchsafed  by  him,  quite  familiar  with  the  work- 
ings of  the  department.  I  ascertained  immediately  that  there 
was  not  a  dollar  in  the  treasury  to  the  credit  of  the  general 
fund,  wh^le  there  was  quite  a  large  sum  to  the  credit  of  special 
funds.  These,  however,  could  not  be  used  to  enable  the  treasury 
to  meet  the  demands  for  other  purposes.  I  at  once  saw  the  ab- 


618  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


solute  necessity  of  adopting  some  measure  that  would  relieve  this 
unnatural  condition.  I  did  not  have  to  search  far  for  the  cause, 
and  did  not  hesitate  to  apply  the  remedy. 

The  prevailing  practice  was  to  allow  sheriffs,  tax  collectors, 
and  others  who  had  to  mate  accountings  to  the  treasury  to  pay 
25  per  cent  of  the  amount  turned  in  by  them  in  State  warrants. 
As  a  result,  when  the  moneys  due  special  funds  were  set  aside, 
there  was  no  cash  on  hand  to  meet  other  obligations,  and  war- 
rants were  hawked  on  the  streets  and  sold  at  a  discount.  The  pur- 
chasers, certain  persons  living  at  the  capital,  watched  the  treas- 
ury, and  as  soon  as  money  was  on  hand  presented  their  paper 
and  drew  it  out. 

Immediately  upon  my  induction  into  office  I  notified  the  heads 
of  departments  and  others  interested  that  I  intended  to  abolish 
this  custom  and  to  establish  a  system  whereby  only  cash  would 
be  accepted  in  settlements,  and  warrants  be  paid  according  to 
registration.  The  entire  official  family,  with  the  exception  of  the 
chief  executive,  disagreed  with  me,  contending  that  under  such  a 
system  no  money  would  flow  into  the  treasury.  On  my  notifying 
Governor  Koberts  of  my  intention,  he  said :  "I  like  your  plan. 
It  is  fair;  it  is  honest.  Go  ahead,  inaugurate  it,  and  I  will  sus- 
tain you."  I  therefore  gave  notice  that  after  a  certain  day  noth- 
ing but  money  would  be  received ;  that  the  warrants  could  be 
deposited,  and  would  be  registered  and  paid  in  the  order  of  regis- 
tration. Up  to  this  time  warrants  were  being  shaved  at  any- 
where from  5  to  15  per  cent  discount.  As  soon  as  registration 
was  commenced  and  strictly  and  impartially  enforced,  warrants 
began  to  appreciate,  for  the  obvious  reason  that  the  intelligent 
business  public  could  approximate  days  of  payment,  whereas 
under  the  old  plan  only  men  who  watched  daily  and  made  it  a 
special  business  could  ascertain  when  a  deposit  of  money  had 
been  made  and  hurry  up  to  the  treasury  and  have  warrants 
cashed.  It  consequently  happened  that  while  this  class  often  re- 
ceived payment  before  the  ink  was  dry  on  their  warrants,  men 
who  had  waited  perhaps  for  weeks  and  months  were  turned  away 
empty-handed. 

The  change  that  I  inaugurated  caused  quite  a  ripple.  It  of 
course  found  no  favor  with  those  who  had  been  speculating  in 
warrants  and  deriving  large  profits  therefrom.  They  were  soon 
fompellod  to  admit  the  justness  of  its  operation  and  bowed  with 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


such  grace  as  they  could  to  the  new  order  established.  The  re- 
form was  not  accomplished,  however,  without  vigorous  opposi- 
tion from  other  quarters, — in  some  instances  members  of  the 
Legislature  who  desired  the  rule  relaxed  in  their  favor  and  cash 
paid  immediately  on  presentation  of  their  warrants  for  per  diem, 
and  in  others  county  officials  who  desired  to  make  settlements 
in  the  manner  that  had  formerly  prevailed.  In  all  such  cases 
I  stated  that  I  could  make  no  concessions;  that  the  rule  was 
one  that  did  not  admit  of  exceptions. 

By  a  strict  enforcement  of  this  rule,  cash  soon  flowed  into  the 
coffers  of  the  State  until  they  were  filled,  and  warrants  were  be- 
ing paid  in  full  promptly  on  presentation. 

I  trust  I  may  be  pardoned  for  reproducing  the  following, 
penned  by  S.  G.  Sneed  and  printed  in  the  Texas  Review  of  May, 
1886,  published  at  Austin  by  C.  R.  Johns  &  Son : 

"The  rule  raised  a  storm  of  indignation  among  speculators- 
and  was  denounced  as  'illegal/  'unauthorized  by  law,'  'high- 
handed' and  with  other  like  epithets.  Many  of  the  Treasurer's- 
friends  thought  the  scheme  impracticable.  The  Legislature  was 
in  session,  and  a  few  members  talked  about  impeachment.  .  .  , 

"He  stood  firmly  to  his  position,  and  when  asked  to  make  ex- 
ceptions in  certain  cases,  replied  that,  if  he  consented  to  do  sor 
he  would  in  the  next  moment  resign  his  office. 

"He  was  assailed  and  confronted  with  the  law,  and  customs, 
and  influences,  to  no  avail.  He  replied  to  some  parties,  who 
made  elaborate  appeals  on  the  law  of  the  case :  'I'm  not  much 
on  law ;  I  shall  follow  equity,  and  intend  to  stick  to  my  rule  and 
strict  justice.' 

"Treasurer  Lubbock,  intent  on  his  duties  at  a  time  when  there 
were  serious  embarrassments,  and  there  were  strange  practices 
and  policies,  originated  a  new  policy,  as  shown,  and  it  is  probable 
it  will  never  be  departed  from  in  any  future  period  of  financial 
distress. 

"When  the  little  embarrassment  occurred  in  January  last  he 
knew  exactly  how  to  steer  and  he  broke  down  every  effort  made 
to  cripple  the  treasury. 

"Under  the  old  regime  speculators  could  keep  the  treasury 
perpetually  drained ;  but  they  can  not  under  the  new  rule,  which 
ought  to  pass  into  history  as  'Lubbock's  rule.'  . 


620  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"Among  the  facetiae  of  the  times  a  poet  laureate  (who  needed 
the  benefit  of  the  registration  rule),  not  being  forced  to  sell  his 
claims,  made  the  following  endorsement  on  the  back  of  his  war- 
rant, which  contains  more  truth  than  poetry : 

'  'Frank  Lubbock's  head  was  level,  when 
He  broke  the  schemes  of  cunning  men: 
Some  howled  and  shouted  out,  '  Perdition! 
What  means  this  scheme  of  registration?' 
But  'twas  no  use  to  flght  such  tricks, 
The  rule  was  made,  the  rule  still  sticks; 
It's  just  and  right,  without  a  flaw. 
And  Lubbock's  rule  is  Texas  law.' ' 

When  I  took  charge  of  the  Treasurer's  office  the  force  was  a 
chief  clerk,  a  bookkeeper,  an  assistant  bookkeeper,  a  night  watch- 
man, and  a  porter.  I  brought  with  me  Nick  Weekes,  Esq.,  as 
chief  clerk,  retaining  the  balance  of  the  force.  Mr.  Weekes,  after 
several  years  of  faithful  and  acceptable  service,  voluntarily  sev- 
ered his  connection  with  the  department  to  embark  in  other  busi- 
ness and  was  succeeded  by  W.  B.  Wortham,  who  continued  my 
first  lieutenant  (and  a  very  able  one  it  affords  me  pleasure  to 
say)  until  I  retired  from  office. 

During  my  first  two  years  as  State  Treasurer  I  performed  the 
duties  of  a  clerk  in  addition  to  my  labors  as  head  of  the  depart- 
ment. At  the  beginning  I  established  a  rule  from  which  I  never 
afterwards  departed,  viz. :  That  every  letter  received  in  the 
office  must  be  answered.  I  opened  and  carefully  and  fully  re- 
plied to  every  letter  that  was  received  myself,  if  I  could  possibly 
do  so,  and  to  this  fact  I  attribute  much  of  the  success  I  was  en- 
abled to  achieve. 

0.  M.  Roberts  and  Joseph  D.  Sayers  were  rival  candidates  for 
the  Democratic  nomination  for  Governor  in  1880. 

The  Constitution  provided  that  as  much  as  one-fourth  of  the 
general  revenue  annually  might  be  applied  to  the  support  of  the 
public  schools;  but  through  Governor  Roberts'  influence  the  ap- 
propriation was  reduced  to  one-sixth.  A  storm  of  dissatisfaction 
arose  at  this  supposed  gubernatorial  hostility  to  the  free  schools. 
Lieutenant-Governor  Sayers  headed  the  opposition  and  made  his 
canvass,  chiefly  on  this  issue.  The  newspapers  took  a  prominent 
part  in  the  contest,  the  large  majority  favoring  Roberts'  idea  of 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  021 


making  the  free  school  appropriations  dependent  entirely  upon 
the  necessities  of  the  State  government. 

At  the  Dallas  convention  in  July,  1880,  Roberts  was  renomi- 
nated  for  Governor ;  but  the  principle  for  which  Sayers  contended 
was  sustained,  the  convention  by  resolution  declaring  in  favor 
of  the  largest  appropriations  for  the  schools  permitted  by  the 
Constitution  and  justified  by  the  financial  condition  of  the  State. 
Major  Sayers  cheerfully  acquiesced  in  the  action  of  the  party  and 
gave  the  whole  ticket  his  hearty  support.  Free  coinage  and  re- 
monetization  of  silver  was  also  favored  by  resolution,  and  Con- 
gress was  asked  to  prevent  unjust  discriminations  and  extortion- 
ate rates  of  charges  for  the  transportation  of  interstate  com- 
merce. 

The  Eepublican  ex-Governor,  E.  J.  Davis,  and  W.  H.  Ham- 
man,  Greenbacker,  with  their  respective  tickets  were  badly  beaten 
by  the  Democratic  nominees  that  year,  and  all  our  congressmen 
were  elected  by  increased  majorities.  One  of  the  Democratic 
platform  demands  was  the  immediate  establishment  of  the  State 
University  as  provided  by  the  Constitution.  Governor  Eoberts 
had  previously  conferred  with  the  teachers  (assembled  in  State 
convention  at  Mexia)  on  the  subject,  and  they  had  pledged  their 
co-operation.  On  the  meeting  of  the  Seventeenth  Legislature 
Dr.  Oscar  H.  Cooper118  presented  to  Governor  Roberts  a  memo- 
rial from  the  teachers  urging  the  immediate  organization  of  the 
University,  and  it  was  by  the  Governor  transmitted  by  message 
to  the  Legislature  with  his  approval. 

The  location  of  the  university  was  determined  by  popular 
vote  at  an  election  held  for  that  purpose,  Austin  being  selected 
as  the  seat  of  the  main  University  and  Galveston  as  that  of  the 
medical  branch. 

The  Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  organized  in  1871 
on  a  landed  endowment  made  by  the  Federal  Government  (Act 

118  Dr.  Cooper  was  born  in  Panola  County,  Texas,  in  1849  ;  graduated 
from  Yale  in  1872,  and  later  attended  the  University  of  Berlin  ;  was  for 
nearly  four  years  State  superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  for  Texas, 
and  superintendent  of  public  schools  in  Galveston  for  about  the  same 
length  of  time  ;  was  elected  president  of  Baylor  University  in  1899,  and 
is  now  acting  in  that  capacity.  In  1886  Dr.  Cooper  married  Miss  Mary 
B.  Stewart,  grand-daughter  of  the  late  Dr.  Jas.  H.  Starr.  As  an  edu- 
cator he  has,  perhaps,  no  superior  in  Texas. — ED. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  July  2,  1862),  was  declared  by  the  State  Constitution  of 
1876  a  branch  of  the  University,  and  was  permanently  located  at 
College  Station,  near  Bryan,  and  put  into  successful  operation 
several  years  before  the  organization  of  the  main  university  at 
Austin.  The  corner  stone  of  the  University  was  laid  with  im- 
pressive ceremonies  at  Austin,  November  17,  1882,  and  the  in- 
stitution was  formally  opened  September  15,  1883.  On  the  lat- 
ter occasion,  before  a  large  audience,  several  interesting  addresses 
were  made,  notably  those  of  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith  and  Gov.  John 
Ireland. 

The  bill  providing  for  the  establishment  of  the  University  was 
introduced  by  Senator  John  C.  Buchanan,  of  Wood,  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  education,  and,  with  some  unimportant 
modifications,  became  a  law.  And  I  understand  that  Senator 
Buchanan's  bill  was  in  substance  the  bill  prepared  by  Dr.  Cooper 
And  submitted  to  the  Senator  for  consideration.  The  chief  ad- 
vocates of  the  measure  in  the  Senate  were  Lieutenant-Governor 
Storey,  John  C.  Buchanan,  A.  W.  Terrell,  R.  M.  Wynne,  Jno.  Y. 
Gooch,  and.  J.  B.  Stubbs. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  named  by  the  Governor  for 
regents  of  the  university :  T.  J.  Devine,  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith,  ex- 
Governors  Throckmorton,  Hubbard,  and  Pease,  Dr.  James  H. 
Starr,  Mr.  A.  N.  Edwards,  and  Prof.  Smith  Ragsdale.  Some 
political  objections,  as  I  understand  it,  having  been  advanced 
against  E.  M.  Pease,  the  name  of  Jas.  H.  Bell  was  substituted 
for  that  of  Pease,  and  all  the  appointments  were  thereupon  con- 
firmed by  the  Senate.  The  distinguished  Dr.  Ashbel  Smith  was 
deservedly  chosen  as  the  first  chairman  of  the  board  of  regents. 

Judge  John  Hancock  presided  over  the  Democratic  State 
convention  held  at  Galveston  in  1882.  As  foreshadowed  by  the 
•country  press,  John  Ireland  proved  the  choice  for  Governor  and 
was  nominated  by  the  convention,  practically  without  opposition. 
Marion  Martin  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant-Governor.  I  was 
renominated  for  Treasurer  by  acclamation,  an  honor  also  ac- 
corded by  the  State  convention  at  Dallas  two  years  before. 

To  prevent  the  recurrence  of  trouble  on  the  educational  ques- 
tion, the  convention  favored  by  resolution  "the  submission  to  the 
people  of  a  constitutional  amendment  authorizing  the  levy  and 
collection  of  a  special  school  tax  separate  from  that  levied  for 
general  revenue."  The  amendment  was  accordingly  submitted 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


623 


and  adopted,  and  there  has  been  no  doubt  since  as  to  the  avail- 
able school  fund. 

The  entire  Democratic  ticket  was  elected  over  the  combined 
Greenback  and  Kepublican  opposition  headed  by  G.  W.  Jones. 
In  1884,  Ireland,  with  Barney  Gibbs  as  a  running  mate,  was 
re-elected  over  G.  W.  Jones  and  A.  B.  Norton.  While  Ireland 


GOV.  JOHN  IRELAND. 


was  Governor  the  University  began  its  exercises  and  the  founda- 
tion of  the  present  capitol  was  laid.  There  also  occurred  the 
fence-cutting  trouble  caused  by  the  enclosure  of  large  pastiires 
obstructing  the  roads.  It  took  a  special  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture to  settle  the  matter.  During  Ireland's  second  term  my 
quondam  Secretary  of  State  in  1862,  Judge  C.  S.  West  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  resigned  and  the  Governor  appointed  the  Hon. 
Sawnie  Eobertson119  of  Dallas  to  fill  out  his  unexpired  term. 

119  On  the  occasion  of  memorial  proceedings  had  in  the  Supreme 
Court  June  5,  1893,  in  honor  of  Judge  Robertson,  who  died  June  21  of 
the  preceding  year,  Attorney  General  C.  A.  Culberson  presented,  as  ex- 


(324  LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Lawrence  Sullivan  Ross120  was  nominated  for  Governor  and 
T.  B.  Wheeler  for  Lieutenant-Governor  by  the  Democratic  State 
convention  held  at  Galveston  in  the  summer  of  1886,  and  that 
body  conferred  upon  me  the  honor  of  renomination.  The  Green- 
back party  had  gone  to  pieces.  The  Republicans  and  Prohibi- 
tionists had  candidates  in  the  field.  A.  M.  Cochran  was  the 
nominee  of  the  former  and  E.  L.  Dohoney  of  the  latter.  They 
were  defeated  by  a  popular  majority  of  more  than  150,000  votes. 

Deciding  to  settle  the  question  of  prohibition  outside  of  party 
lines  by  a  full  and  free  expression  of  the  will  of  the  people  of 
Texas,  the  Twentieth  Legislature  submitted  a  constitutional 
amendment  prohibiting  the  importation,  sale,  or  manufacture  of 
malt,  vinous,  or  spirituous  liquors  in  the  State  of  Texas,  to  be 
voted  on  at  an  election  ordered  for  that  purpose  in  August,  1887. 
The  canvass  was  a  very  exciting  one,  in  which  much  bitterness 
was  manifested.  None  of  the  State  officials  favored  the  amend- 
ment. Among  prominent  Democrats  who  favored  the  measure 
were  D.  B.  Culberson,  John  H.  Reagan,  S.  B.  Maxey,  W.  S. 
Herndon,  and  John  M.  Duncan.  The  question  at  issue  was  not 
a  party  question,  and  positions  taken  either  for  or  against  the 
amendment  in  no  way  affected  the  party  status  of  the  individ- 
uals assuming  them.  I,  and  those  who  believed  with  me,  con- 
tended, and  I  believe  rightly,  that  evil  would  follow  the  adoption 
of  the  proposed  amendment,  and  that  it  was  an  anti-democratic 
measure.  The  amendment  was  defeated  by  a  majority  that  elimi- 
nated the  question  from  State  politics,  at  least  for  many  years 
to  come. 

pressive  of  the  sentiments  of  the  Dallas  bar,  resolutions  that  were 
ordered  spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the  court,  and  that  contained  the 
following  expressions  regarding  Judge  Robertson  : 

"As  a  lawyer,  he  had  no  superior  in  the  State.  At  the  early  age  of 
thirty-five  years,  such  was  his  pre-eminence  as  a  lawyer,  that  at  the 
spontaneous  suggestion  of  the  bar  of  the  State  he  was  appointed  to  the 
bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  from  which  he  voluntarily  retired,  to  the 
regret  of  the  entire  bench  and  bar,  after  serving  with  distinguished 
ability  only  one  year." — ED. 

140  A  most  accomplished  and  elegant  man.  famous  as  an  Indian 
fighter  and  gallant  Confederate  officer.  It  was  my  fortune  to  be  inti- 
mately associated  with  him  during  his  four  years' term  as  Governor. 
He  was  patriotic,  honest,  arid  devoted  to  the  public  interest. 


LUBBOCK'8  MEMOIRS.  625 


There  was  a  notable  reunion  of  Parsons'  brigade  held  at  Tem- 
ple, Texas,  August  12,  1887,  a  very  interesting  program  of  ex- 
ercises being  observed.  There  was  a  street  parade  at  10  a.  m., 
with  several  thousand  old  soldiers  in  line,  ex-Federals  occupying 
positions  of  honor.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  parade  the  crowd 
returned  to  the  opera  house,  where  I  was  introduced  by  Capt. 
W.  G.  Veal,  and  delivered  a  speech,  as  orator  of  the  day.  Gov- 
ernor Eoss  was  to  have  followed  me,  but  was  prevented  by  press- 
ure of  official  business.121 

Governor  Eoss  was  later  invited  to  deliver  the  memorial  ad- 
dress at  a  Confederate  reunion  held  at  Elkhorn,  Ark.,  Septem- 
ber 3,  1887,  but  not  being  able  to  attend,  offered  me  to  the  in- 
vitation committee  as  his  substitute,  writing  to  me  at  the  same 
time  under  date  of  August  15th: 

"I  am  in  receipt  of  an  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  battle- 
field of  Pea  Eidge  on  the  1st  day  of  September,  1887,  to  take 
part  in  the  ceremonies  of  unveiling  a  monument  to  Generals  Mc- 
Culloch,  Mclntosh,  and  Slack,  who  lost  their  lives  on  that  oc- 
casion. 

"My  duties  will  prevent  my  attendance,  but  I  realize  that  it 
is  fit  and  proper  that  some  Texan  of  'name  and  fame'  should  be 
there  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  one  who  so  honored  our  State 
as  McCulloch,  and  to  those  others  who  laid  down  their  lives  for 
the  cause  we  loved  so  well. 

"There  is  in  this  broad  State  of  ours  no  man  better  qualified 
than  yourself  for  this  duty,  equally  mingled  with  pleasure  and 
sadness, — sadness  for  those  who  are  gone,  and  pleasure  at  the 
thought  that  though  a  quarter  of  a  century  has  passed  the  memo- 
ries of  their  brave  and  gallant  deeds  are  yet  kept  green.  From 
the  days  of  the  Eepublic  you  have  shared,  and  in  a  great  measure 
guided,  the  destinies  of  the  State  through  good  and  evil  fortunes, 
till  to-day  she  is  crowned  with  a  bright  prosperity  and  looks  out 
on  a  glorious  future. 

1 '  *  The  Galveston  News  correspondent  said  of  Governor  Lubbock's 
speech:  "The  address  of  Governor  Lubbock  was  a  most  eloquent  piece 
of  oratory,  and  held  the  close  and  earnest  attention  of  his  hearers 
throughout.  He  was  frequently  interrupted  by  the  enthusiastic  ap- 
plause of  his  audience,  amid  which  echoed  ever  and  anon  that  never-to- 
be-forgotten  shout  which  now  is  termed  the  'rebel  yell. ' '  — ED. 

40 


626  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"I  therefore  request  that  you  will  take  my  place  on  the  oc- 
casion named,  and  be  present  to  represent  Texas,  in  honor  to  Mc- 
Culloch  and  our  other  gallant  fellow  citizens  who  fell  at  Pea 
Ridge." 

Accepting  the  cordial  invitation  of  D.  H.  Hammons,  writing 
for  the  committee,  I  went  on  the  'Frisco  Railroad  to  Avoca,  the 
station  nearest  the  battlefield.  I  was  there  taken  in  charge  by 
Mr.  Albert  Peel,  who  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome  and  escorted  me 
over  to  the  camp  near  the  P^lkhorn  tavern.  A  large  assemblage 
was  on  the  ground,  and  Senator  Berry,  of  Arkansas,  presided. 
I  was  introduced  by  him  in  a  few  well  chosen  remarks,  and  after 
deprecating  my  inability  to  act  as  a  proper  substitute  for  Gov- 
ernor Ross,  proceeded  to  sketch  the  salient  points  in  the  char- 
acter of  Gen.  Ben  McCulloch  as  a  soldier  and  civilian,  and  to,  a& 
far  as  lay  within  the  scope  of  my  abilities,  pay  the  tributes  due 
to  the  other  Texans  wh£>  fell  upon  that  fiercely  contested  field, 
closing  with  the  expression  of  such  thoughts  and  sentiments  as 
the  assemblage  before  me,  remembrance  of  the  brave  departed, 
and  the  occasion  naturally  inspired.122  The  address  was  well 

18aThe  Arkansas  Democrat  of  September  6,  1887,  said  editorially: 
"The  full  text  of  the  able  and  eloquent  address  of  ex-Governor  Lub- 
bock,  of  Texas,  at  the  late  Confederate  reunion  at  Elkhorn  will  be 
found  in  to-day's  Democrat.  The  biographical  sketch  of  Gen.  Ben  Mc- 
C'ulloch  and  the  splendid  tribute  to  his  character  as  a  soldier  are  en- 
tirely worthy  of  the  distinguished  ex-Governor — distinguished  alike  in 
peace  and  in  war." 

The  6 lobe- Democrat  correspondent's  report  contained  the  following: 
"The  Governor  made  a  claim  which  was  not  fully  agreed  to  by  all 
present — that  was,  the  Southern  people  won  the  victory  over  Mexico 
aided  by  the  people  of  the  North.  He  then  recounted  at  length  the  ser- 
vices of  General  McCulloch  to  the  general  government  before  the  war, 
and  to  the  Confederacy,  and  dwelt  with  eloquent  earnestness  upon  his 
devotion  to  the  cause  which  he  honestly  and  conscientiously  believed  to 
be  right.  The  Governor  was  willing  to  accord  to  those  who  fought  on 
the  other  side  the  same  honesty  of  purpose  and  the  same  sincerity  of 
motive. 

"The  address  was  finely  delivered  and  though  occupying  a  full  hour 
was  listened  to  with  attentive  interest  to  the  close." — ED. 

The  correspondent  of  the  Arkansas  Democrat  made  the  following  al- 
lusions to  personages  I  met,  and  my  stay  at  the  hospitable  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peel,  all  still  well  and  appreciatively  remembered:  "Your  cor- 
respondent was  very  fortunate  in  falling  into  good  hands.  I  was  one  of 
the  honored  guests  of  Mr.  Albert  Peel,  a  prominent  citizen  and  merchant 


Lubbock. 


Roberts.  Ross. 

FOURITEXAS   GOVERNORS. 


Hogg. 


LUB 'BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  627 


received,  judging  from  the  liberal  applause  with  which  it  was 
greeted  during  and  at  the  conclusion  of  its  delivery.  Every  ef- 
fort was  made  to  render  my  visit  to  Arkansas  an  enjoyable  one, 
and  I  returned  to  Austin  bearing  with  me  many  pleasant  recol- 
lections of  that  State  and  its  intelligent  and  hospitable  people. 

After  my  nomination  at  the  State  convention123  held  at  Dallas, 
in  1 888, 1  determined  not  to  be  a  candidate  again  and  announced 
the  fact  to  my  friends.  Boss  and  Wheeler  and  the  entire  State 
ticket  were  renominated  and  re-elected,  defeating  the  Kepub- 
lican-Greenback  opposition  at  the  polls  by  increased  majorities. 

In  Eoss'  second  term  began  in  earnest  the  agitation  of  the 
question  of  a  State  railroad  commission.  That  was  the  para- 
mount issue  in  the  gubernatorial  campaign  of  1890. 

Commissions  for  the  regulation  of  railroads  had  been  tried 
with  various  degrees  of  success  in  several  States.  The  idea  was 
not  unfamiliar  to  the  people  of  Texas,  but  it  was  reserved  for 
the  Attorney-General,  James  Stephen  Hogg,  to  first  champion 
the  measure  on  the  hustings  in  his  candidacy  for  the  Democratic 
nomination  for  Governor  in  1890.  Several  gentlemen  of  ability 
took  the  stump  against  him  on  this  issue.  In  the  remarkable  can- 
vass of  that  year  Hogg's  power  over  the  masses  seemed  irresist- 
ible, and  all  his  opponents  successively  dropped  out  of  the  race. 
The  State  convention  met  at  San  Antonio  in  August.  Hon.  Hor- 
ace Chilton  (now  United  States  Senator  from  Texas)  placed 
General  Hogg's  name  before  the  convention  in  an  able  speech, 
and  he  was  nominated  with  but  one  dissenting  voice.  The  con- 

of  Avoca,  who  had  the  honor  of  entertaining  ex-Governor  Lubbock,  of 
Texas,  whose  acquaintance  I  was  delighted  to  make.  Hon.  C.  B.  Moore, 
Secretary  of  State,  Col.  Samuel  Morris,  of  the  Democrat,  Colonel  Part- 
ridge, of  the  Sentinel,  Judge  Pittman,  Major  Davidson,  Rev.  Mr.  Vaux, 
and  Uncle  Zeb  Pettigrew,  of  Fayetteville,  were  all  most  royally  enter- 
tained by  Mr.  Peel  and  his  excellent  and  most  accomplished  lady,  whose 
kind  hospitality  to  us  will  never  be  forgotten.  If  this  should  ever  meet 
the  eye  of  Governor  Lubbock  he  will  agree  with  me  that  as  a  hostess 
she  is  unsurpassed,  and  that  the  best  roast  mutton  and  coffee  and  the 
whitest,  lightest  bread  ever  placed  before  hungry  mortals  were  served 
at  her  table.  The  Governor,  I  know,  will  not  soon  forget  the  roasted 
lamb,  and  will  smile  when  he  reads  this  reference  to  it." 

183  Gen.  Henry  E.  McCulloch  was  a  rival  candidate  for  nomination 
for  State  Treasurer.  His  candidacy  in  no  way  interrupted  our  friend- 
ship. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


vention  in  its  action  merely  registered  the  decree  which  had  gone 
forth  from  the  people.  The  objection  of  the  delegate  from  one 
county  kept  the  nomination  from  being  by  acclamation. 

W.  B.  Wortham,  my. chief  clerk,  was  selected  to  succeed  me  as 
State  Treasurer.  Knowing  him  to  be  entirely  competent  for  the 
position,  I  espoused  his  candidacy  for  the  nomination.  He  had 
.a  hard  fight  in  the  canvass  and  at  the  convention,  but  was  nom- 
inated on  the  third  ballot. 

When  Wortham  filed  his  bond  on  January  23,  1891,  I  turned 
over  to  him  the  State  treasury,  taking  his  receipt  in  full. 

After  so  many  years  of  service  as  State  Treasurer,  I  felt  truly 
thankful  to  Providence  that  I  had  been  preserved  in  health  and 


CAPITOL  OF  TEXAS. 


•strength  to  the  hour  of  my  retirement,  and  that  I  had  been  en- 
abled to  discharge  my  official  duties  acceptably  to  the  people  and 
to  myself. 

During  my  term  of  office  as  State  Treasurer,  the  present  mag- 
nificent granite  State  capitol  was  erected.  I  was  the  only  mem- 
ber of  the  original  capitol  board  who  served  from  the  beginning 
to  the  completion  of  the  building.  It  is  a  source  of  gratification 
to  me  that  I  was  instrumental  in  having  Texas  stone  used.  The 
contractors  insisted  on  using  Indiana  limestone.  Governor  Ire- 
land stated  emphatically  that  he  would  not  sign  a  contract  that 
would  permit  the  building  to  be  erected  of  foreign  stone.  I  heart- 
ily concurred  with  him,  stating  that  it  had  been  advertised  to  the 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  629" 


world  that  we  had  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  granite,  limestone, 
and  marble ;  that  to  permit  these  men  to  haul  building  material 
from  another  State  would  be  a  great  injustice  and  outrage,  and 
that  if  they  saw  fit  to  throw  up  their  contract  it  would  be  well 
to  let  them  do  so,  as  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  getting  others 
to  take  their  place,  and  we  would  be  the  gainers  to  the  extent  of 
the  work  already  done.  The  Governor  and  myself,  as  members 
of  the  board,  stood  firm  and,  as  a  result,  the  contractors  came 
to  our  terms  and  the  capitol  was  built  wholly  of  Texas  granite, 
limestone,  and  marble,  a  verification  of  every  statement  made  in 
regard  to  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  State. 

Requested  by  the  donors  to  act  for  them  in  that  capacity,  1 
delivered  a  speech124  at  a  joint  session  of  the  Twenty-second  Leg- 
islature, held  in  the  Senate  chamber,  March  8,  1891,  presenting 
to  the  Senate,  and  through  that  body  to  the  people  of  Texas,  a 
very  large  and  fine  oil  painting  of  Jefferson  Davis.  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Pendleton  made  the  speech  of  acceptance.  The  pro- 
gram of  exercises  had  been  prepared  by  a  legislative  committee 
appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  was  of  a  character  worthy  of 
the  departed  chief,  whose  memory  will  ever  be  treasured  by  the 
people  of  the  South. 


184  See  Appendix  for  speech. 


630 


LUBBOCK' S  MEMOIRS, 


CHAPTER    THIRTY-SIX. 

Family  Matters — My  Present  Wife,  Sarah  Elizabeth  Black  Lubbock  — 
Her  Carolina  Family  —  Our  Visit  to  South  Carolina  —  Hospitable  Re- 
ception—  A  Pleasant  Sojourn  —  Atlanta  —  Southern  Prosperity. 

In  1882,  during  my  term  as  State  Treasurer,  God  took  to  Him- 
self my  wife,  Adele  Baron  Lubbock,  whose  love  and  devotion  had 
brightened  nearly  fifty  years  of  my  life. 

After  the  expiration  of  a  year  I  married  my  present  wife, 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Black  Lubbock,  whose  love  and  devotion  and 


F.  R    LUBBOCK. 


8.  E.  BLACK  PORTER. 


energy  have  made  my  present  work  possible.  She  is  from  a 
Carolina  family,  and  was  the  widow  of  Dr.  A.  A.  Porter,  a  dis- 
tinguished divine  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  With  this  church 
I  united  about  one  year  after  our  marriage,  and  I  am  well  pleased 
to  say  that  I  have  had  more  satisfaction  in  my  religion  since  than 
in  my  previous  political  honors, — honors  so  kindly  conferred  by 
my  fellow-citizens  that  my  appreciation  of  them  always  helped 
me  to  live  a  grateful,  happy  life. 

The  accompanying  page  presents  a  group  picture  of  the  entire 
family  of  my  wife  S.  E.  Black  Lubbock.    It  represents  the  vari- 


632  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


During  our  stay  there  was  an  ex-Confederate  reunion  in  Green- 
ville, at  which,  in  compliance  with  a  pressing  invitation,  I  deliv- 
ered a  speech  on  August  4th  to  the  veterans  of  the  "lost  cause" 
and  citizens  assembled  in  the  City  Park. 

I  was  introduced  by  Colonel  Crittenden  as  having  been  the 
War  Governor  of  Texas,  and  later  on  the  staff  of  President  Davis, 
and  as  a  South  Carolinian  by  birth,  the  colonel  taking  advantage 
of  the  occasion  to  say  much  of  a  complimentary  nature  in  my  be- 
half. In  my  address  1  alluded  to  the  fact  that  Bonham,  the  hero 
of  the  Alamo,  was  a  South  Carolinian;  that,  sent  out  to  procure 
reinforcements  and  failing,  he  cut  his  way  back  into  the  Alamo 
to  die  with  its  garrison,  which  he  then,  better  than  any  other, 
knew  to  be  doomed. 

I  said  also  that  Eusk,  Hemphill,  Wigfall,  Koberts,  Murrah, 
B.  E.  Bee  (father  of  Barnard  E.  Bee),  T.  N.  Waul,  A.  S.  Lips- 
comb,  and  Chas.  S.  West,  all  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  Texas 
history  for  great  abilities  and  public  services,  were  born  in  the 
Palmetto  State.  I  said  that  in  nearly  every  hamlet  arid  neigh- 
borhood in  Texas  South  Carolinians,  or  the  descendants  of  South 
Carolinians,  were  to  be  found,  and  that  all  I  had  ever  known  had 
proven  themselves  to  be  good  citizens.  I  sketched  briefly  the 
history  of  South  Carolina  in  the  American  Revolution,  in  the 
aid  given  by  her  sons  to  the  cause  of  Texas  freedom,  and  in  the 
part  she  took  in  the  Mexican  war  and  the  war  between  the  States, 
in  both  of  which  struggles  her  soldiers  and  those  of  Texas  fought 
shoulder  to  shoulder ;  and  stated  that  these  two  commonwealths, 
whose  people  were  bound  together  by  so  many  enduring  ties,  were 
equally  dear  to  me  and  would  be  to  my  dying  hour ;  that  I  gloried 
in  the  prowess  the  soldiers  of  both  had  shown  on  the  battlefield ; 
the  purity,  patriotism,  and  wisdom  the  statesmen  of  each  had 
exhibited ;  and  the  imperishable  renown  that  had  been  achieved 
by  both  in  the  course  of  the  civil  and  martial  struggles  that  had 
marked  the  progress  of  our  national  life.  I  said  that,  while  the 
career  of  South  Carolina  reached  back  to  a  much  more  remote 
period  than  that  of  Texas,  and  she  could  show  a  longer  scroll, 
inscribed  with  the  record  of  far  more  numerous  deeds  of  valor 
and  worth,  yet  the  scroll  of  Texas  gleamed  no  less  brightly,  and 
the  record  it  displayed  was,  as  far  as  it  extended,  no  less  hon- 
orable and  heroic. 

I  talked  to  the  veterans  of  the  parts  they  and  others  like  them 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS.  033 


had  taken  in  the  war  between  the  States;  of  the  reconstruction 
period;  of  the  progress  being  made  by  the  South,  and  of  my 
hopes  for  its  future,  and  concluded  by  saying  that  Confederate 
reunions  should  continue  to  be  held  until  the  last  of  those  who 
wore  the  gray  have  passed  from  the  scenes  of  earth.  They  asked 
me  to  do  so,  and  I  talked  specially  of  Mr.  Davis  for  awhile.125 

Judge  Cothran  and  Col.  James  Armstrong,  of  Charleston,  de- 
livered interesting  addresses. 

After  the  speech-making,  and  a  benediction  pronounced  by 
Rev.  John  0.  Willson,  all  repaired  to  another  part  of  the  park, 
where  an  elegant  picnic  dinner  was  served  near  a  beautiful 
spring,  under  the  overshadowing  boughs  of  a  grove  of  century- 
old  oaks. 

From  Greenville  we  visited  relatives  at  Greenwood,  in  Abbe- 
ville County;  Cross  Hill,  and  Blacksburg.  The  latter  place  is 
named  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Lubbock's  family.  Her  father  and  E. 
Graham  owned  the  King's  Mountain  Iron  Works  and  a  consid- 
erable tract  of  land  near  Blacksburg  containing  extensive  iron 
deposits.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  her  brother,  Col.  John  L.  Black, 
was  vice-president  of  the  Magnetic  Iron  and  Steel  Ore  Company, 
organized  for  the  purpose  of  developing  the  mines,  which  now 
give  promise  of  becoming  valuable.  My  wife's  sister  and  brother 
came  from  Greenville  to  .join  us  at  Blacksburg  and  remained 
with  us  during  our  few  weeks  stay  there.  We  visited  the  house 
where  my  wife  was  born  (now  occupied  by  the  employes  of  a  cot- 
ton factory)  and  the  family  plantation.  The  latter  is  still  owned 
by  her  brother,  sister,  and  herself.  As  the  town  contained  many 
of  her  relatives,  our  stay  there  was  made  very  enjoyable.  Colonel 

«=  1 » s  "  Governor  Lubbock   spoke  for  an  hour  and  a  half, "  says  the 
Greenville  Daily  News,  "  and  was  given  the  closest  attention. 
The  speaker  said  he  had  hear*d  many  good  men  say,  'we  fought  for 
what  we  thought  was  right.'     He  did  not  like  to  hear  men  make  that 
remark,  because  '  we  fought  for  what  we  knew  was  right. ' 

"Speaking  of  the  overwhelming  numbers  of  Federal  soldiers,  Gov- 
ernor Lubbock  said  that  the  records  of  the  war  department  in  Washing- 
ton showed  that  it  took  five  and  one-half  Federal  soldiers  to  whip  one 
Confederate.  He  told  a  story  about  meeting  a  friend  in  New  York  just 
after  the  war.  His  friend  said,  'Colonel,  I've  just  found  out  how  we 
were  beat.'  'How's  that?'  asked  the  Governor.  'Why,  they've  got 
more  omnibus  drivers  in  New  York  City  than  we  had  cavalry  in  the 
war.'  The  story  caused  laughter  and  applause." — ED. 


634  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Black  and  I  made  a  trip  to  my  old  home,  Charleston,  where  I 
had  not  been  since  the  meeting  of  the  Democratic  convention  in 
1860.  Notwithstanding  all  the  misfortunes  visited  upon  her  by 
war,  flood,  fire,  and  earthquake,  I  found  the  city  much  improved, 
and  discovered  quite  a  number  of  old  landmarks,  associated  with 
my  recollections  of  boyhood,  unchanged — notably  the  old  two- 
story  brick  in  which  I  took  my  first  lessons  in  business,  the  very 
doors,  including  the  hinges  upon  which  they  were  swung  and  the 
locks  with  which  they  were  fastened,  appearing  the  same,  al- 
though sixty  years  had  elapsed  since  I  stepped  forth  from  this 
initial  point  of  endeavor  to  seek  what  fortune  for  myself  awaited 
me  in  the  world.  As  I  anticipated,  I  found  but  few  of  my  fam- 
ily connections  living.  I  was  gratified  to  find  that  those  who 
survived  were  pleased  that  I  had  come  so  far  to  see  them  and  the 
old  place.  Dr.  Hopson  Pinckney's  son,  G.  Pinckney,  Esq.,  was 
very  kind  to  me,  showing  me  about  the  city  and  pointing  out 
places  and  objects  of  interest.  I  visited  the  spot  where  my 
parents'  home  once  stood,  on  South  Battery. 

From  Charleston  we  went  to  Grahamville  to  visit  Cousin  Ann 
Oswald,  always  so  dear  to  the  entire  family,  and  from  whom  I 
received  so  many  evidences  of  kindness  and  love  in  my  childhood 
days.  She  was  eighty-five  years  old,  but  in  good  health  and 
cheerful,  her  mind  as  bright  as  at  any  period  of  her  life,  and  she 
was  delighted  to  see  me.  The  pleasure  I  experienced  was  fully 
as  great  as  hers.  She  was  living  with  her  nephew,  Charles  Bell, 
a  prominent  lawyer  of  that  section. 

Having  discharged  this  duty,  we  returned  to  Charleston,  and 
proceeded  thence  to  Columbia  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  my  old- 
time  friend  and  schoolmate,  Dr.  Hopson  Pinckney,  who  came  in 
from  his  country  home  near  that  city  to  see  me.  After  enjoying 
the  pleasure  of  talking  over  old  times  with  him,  and  seeing  that 
a  separation  for  thirty  years  had  dimmed  his  regard  for  me  as 
little  as  it  had  mine  for  him,  Colonel  Black  and  I  returned  to 
Blacksburg  and  rejoined  Mrs.  Lubbock. 

During  the  few  days  that  we  remained  there,  Col.  Wharton 
Green,  an  accomplished  North  Carolinian,  came  to  visit  us  upon 
the  invitation  of  Colonel  Black.  They  were  West  Point  chums. 
I  had  made  his  acquaintance  many  years  before,  and  I  was  truly 
gratified  at  his  coming.  His  father,  Gen.  Thomas  Jefferson 


LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


635 


Green,  brought  men  and  means  to  the  aid  of  Texas  in  her  revo- 
lutionary struggle. 

On  leaving  Blaeksburg,  Mrs.  Lubbock  and  I  accompanied  her 
sister  to  Greenville,  remained  there  a  week,  and  at  the  conclusion 
of  our  delightful  sojourn  started  on  our  journey  home,  which 
we  reached  September  12,  1891. 

On  our  way  to  Texas  we  stopped  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  to  spend  a 
few  hours  with  Dr.  J.  H.  Logan's  family,  relatives  of  my  wife. 
They  rendered  our  visit  to  them  very  pleasant. 


F.  K  LUBBOCK 


S.  E.  BLACK  LUBBOCK. 


(Our  Latest  Pictures.) 


As  I  expected,  Atlanta  had  grown  wonderfully,  and  contrasted 
happily  and  markedly  with  the  town  that  I  escaped  from  when 
Hood  was  evacuating  it  and  the  Federals  were  preparing  to  enter 
it.  This  city  is  an  epitome  in  brick  and  mortar,  in  railroads  and 
factories,  in  increased  population  and  wealth,  and  in  evidences 
of  commercial  vitalit}r,  thrift,  and  energy,  of  the  successful  strug- 
gle that  has  been  made  by  the  Southern  States  from  the  gloom 
and  poverty  that  followed  the  war  to  the  present  condition  of 
prosperity  they  enjoy.  The  South  is  steadily  growing  richer  and 


636  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


more  populous ;  the  commercial  and  industrial  sceptre  is  passing 
to  it  from  the  East,  and  at  no  distant  time  in  the  future  it  will 
be  a  dominant  factor  in  the  Union ;  and  I  rejoice  that  this  is  so, — 
that  a  higher  power  than  human  hate  has  shaped  its  destinies  and 
is  leading  it  on  to  an  ever  brightening  and  more  glorious  future. 
As  I  view  this  pleasing  prospect,  my  love  and  veneration  for  the 
Old  South  grows  warmer  and  more  exalted,  for  the  New  South 
is  but  a  natural  outgrowth  of  the  old. 

I  was  glad  to  note  that  South  Carolina  bore  witness  to  the 
fact  that  she  was  participating  in  the  commercial  reawakening 
and  onward  march.  Dear  old  South  Carolina,  mother  of  patriot- 
etatesmen  and  soldiers,  grand  old  State  that  gave  me  birth  and 
cradled  me  in  thy  arms,  my  heart  turns  fondly  to  thee  as  I  pen 
these  lines.  Go  on,  thou  and  Texas,  into  the  future  that  awaits 
thee,  and  there,  as  in  the  past,  be  foremost,  in  times  of  peace  and 
war,  in  every  good  work  and,  with  counsel  and  valor,  help  to 
make  the  Southland  the  fairest  and  best,  the  richest  and  most 
powerful,  the  bravest  and  most  patriotic  portion  of  this  great 
republic,  that  now,  having  extended  its  sway  across  the  conti- 
nent, from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  is  stretching  forth  strong 
arms  to  encircle  the  isles  of  the  sea.126 

lie  The  Greenwood  correspondent  of  the  Abbeville,  S.  C.,  Press  and 
Banner,  under  date  of  August  11,  1891,  said:  "The  War  Governor  of 
Texas,  ex-Gov.  F.  R.  Lubbock,  and  wife,  spent  several  days  in  town 
last  week,  the  guests  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  P.  Blake.  .  .  .  While 
here  the  young  men  of  our  town  with  a  number  of  our  citizens  sere- 
naded them,  after  which  they  called  upon  Governor  Lubbock  for  a 
speech.  He  responded  in  a  very  appropriate  manner,  .  .  .  and  his 
allusion  to  his  native  State  was  very  touching.  He  said  that  he  had 
lived  his  allotted  time,  and  that  he  would  wish  that  his  bones  could  be 
laid  to  rest  in  this  grand  old  State  where  he  was  born,  were  it  not  for 
the  fact  that  it  would  show  a  want  of  gratitude  upon  his  part  not  to 
have  them  laid  beneath  the  soil  of  his  adopted  State,  which  had  always 
honored  him  and  made  him  what  he  was. 

"Capt.  J.  T.  Parks  was  present,  and  responded  for  Greenwood  in  one 
of  his  best  efforts." 

The  Greenwood  Observer,  then  edited  by  J.  H.  Marshall,  noticed  the 
incident  in  an  article  bearing  the  caption:  "Ex-Gov.  Francis  Lub- 
bock— Honoring  a  Son  of  South  Carolina  Who  Has  Won  Fame  in  the 
Far  West." 

"Between  9  and  10  o'clock  in  the  evening, "  says  the  Observer,  "a 
large  party  of  gentlemen  repaired  to  Mr.  Blake's  residence,  where  a 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  637 


number  of  appropriate  pieces  were  well  rendered  by  the  musicians. 
Before  dispersing,  Governor  Lubbock  was  called  on  for  a  speech  and 
responded  in  the  most  happy  and  appropriate  manner.  .  .  .  After 
the  party  had  been  introduced  to  the  Governor,  and  by  him  presented 
to  his  wife,  who  is  also  a  South  Carolinian,  Captain  Parks  was  called 
upon  to  respond  for  the  city.  Captain  Parks'  remarks  were  appropriate 
and  eloquent,  and  were  frequently  applauded.  Many  of  our  citizens 
have  met  Governor  Lubbock.  and  every  one  is  delighted  with  his  hearty 
joviality,  courtesy,  and  kindness.  Greenwood  never  entertained  a  more 
welcome  guest." 

The  Charleston  News  and  Courier  contained  a  lengthy  notice  of  Gov- 
ernor Lubbock's  visit  to  that  city,  heading  the  article  "  The  Return  of 
the  Native — Ex-Gov.  Francis  R.  Lubbock  of  Texas  Revisits  the  Home 
of  His  Boyhood  for  the  First  Time  in  Thirty  Years — Interesting  Rem- 
iniscences," and  embodying  in  the  article  a  biographical  sketch  of  the 
Governor. 

Governor  and  Mrs.  Lubbock  were  the  recipients,  at  the  various  points 
they  visited  in  South  Carolina,  of  every  courtesy  and  honor  from  press 
and  people  that  could  have  been  expected  from  an  intelligent,  chivalric 
and  appreciative  people  desiring  to  welcome  to  their  midst  a  distin- 
guished son  of  that  State,  and  his  wife,  daughter  of  one  of  the  ablest 
representatives  that  South  Carolina  had  in  time  past  sent  to  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States. — ED. 


638  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


CHAPTER  THIRTY-SEVEN. 

Penitentiary  Board  and  Board  of  Pardons  —  Hogg's  Re-Election  —  His 
Impress  on  Texas  Legislation  —  Sherman  and  Burnet  Monument  — 
Confederate  Reunion  and  Winnie  Davis  —  Culberson  —  Chilton  —  Pri- 
mary Election  —  Omaha  Excursion  —  Galveston  Convention  —  Plat- 
form on  Expansion  —  Sayers'  Administration  —  Executive  Appoint- 
ments—  A  Year's  Work  —  My  Adieu. 

I  approved  Hogg's  policies  and  favored  his  renomination 
in  1892.  Overcoming  the  influence  of  corporations  working 
mightily  against  him,  he  (Hogg)  was  renominated  for  Governor, 
with  M.  M.  Crane  for  Lieutenant-Governor.  The  bitterest  polit- 
ical contest  ever  known  in  Texas  ensued.  But  in  spite  of  the 
formidable  opposition,  under  the  leadership  of  George  Clark  and 
Thomas  L.  Nugent,  Hogg  was  indorsed  at  the  polls  by  a  re- 
election. 

At  the  request  of  Governor  Hogg,127  I  served  as  a  member  of 
the  penitentiary  board  during  his  first  term  of  office.  In  that 
capacity  I  made  several  trips  to  Huntsville  and  Rusk  on  official 
business.  On  one  occasion  we  visited  the  lower  Brazos  with  a 
view  to  purchasing  sugar  lands  for  the  State.  Our  party  con- 
sisted of  Governor  Hogg,  R.  \V.  Finley,  Col.  A.  P.  Wooldridge, 
Judge  Smyth,  Colonel  Whately  and  others,  and  we  had  a  pleas- 
ant time  together. 

187  Governor  Hogg  has  apparently  left  his  impress  indelibly  on  the 
political  history  of  Texas,  and  embodied  permanently-  in  the  State's  or- 
ganic and  statutory  law  the  policies  for  which  he  contended. 

This  is  evidenced  by  the  following  five  of  the  many  important  and 
far  reaching  enactments  passed  during  his  administration,  viz.: 

1.  Establishing  the  Railroad  Commission. 

2.  Prohibiting  the  issuance  of  fictitious  stocks  and  bonds  by  railway 
companies. 

3.  Restricting   the   power   of  counties,  cities,  and    towns   to   issue 
bonds. 

4.  Defining  perpetuities  and  prohibiting  the  ownership  of  land  by 
corporations  for  agricultural,  horticultural,  or  speculative  purposes. 

5.  Prohibiting  aliens  —people  not  residents  or  citizens  of  Texas  or  of 
the  United  States— from  owning  lands  except  for  a  limited  period. 


LUB  BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


To  relieve  the  Governor  of  hard  labor  that  could  be  done  by 
others,  the  Legislature  during  Governor  Hogg's  second  term 
created  a  board  of  pardons,  whose  business  it  was  to  investigate 
the  cases  of  all  convicts  seeking  pardons  and  report  to  the  Gov- 
ernor for  final  action.  I  accepted  a  position  on  the  board.  Judge 
L.  D.  Brooks,  an  elegant  gentleman  and  able  lawyer,  was  the 
other  member.  Our  two  years'  association  was  of  the  most  pleas- 
ant character.  This  was  my  last  service  as  a  public  official. 

On  invitation  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Eepublic,  I  participated 
in  the  ceremonies  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  to 
Burnet  and  Sherman  at  Galveston,  March  2,  1894.  After  a  most 
eloquent  speech  by  Norman  G.  Kittrell,  the  orator  of  the  day,  I 
was  called  out.  Unprepared  as  I  was  (I  had  not  been  notified 
that  I  would  be  expected  to  make  a  speech)  I  rose  and  made  a 
few  remarks  on  the  characters  of  Burnet  and  Sherman,  saying 
in  conclusion :  "A  great  many  people  think  I  was  in  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto,  because  I  am  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  vet- 
erans. I  am  sorry,  now,  that  I  was  not  in  that  battle ;  for,  if  I 
had  been,  my  Texas  record  would  now  be  complete.  And,  really, 
if  I  had  known  how  few  of  you.  would  have  been  killed,  I  would 
have  most  certainly  been  there."  This  brought  a  smile  to  the 
faces  of  the  veterans.  Aged  though  they  were,  they  still  had 
soldiers'  hearts,  and  the  true  soldier  will  appreciate  and  laugh 
at  a  joke  even  under  fire. 

I  was  present  at  the  grand  reunion  of  Confederate  veterans 
at  Houston  in  May,  1895.  It  was  a  delightful  affair,  and  I 
enjoyed  the  company  very  much.  Besides  this,  I  had  the  pleas- 
ure of  meeting  Miss  Winnie  Davis,128  whom  I  had  not  seen  since 
the  reinterment  of  the  remains  of  Mr.  Davis  at  Bichmond,  Va. 

Attorney-General  Charles  A.  Culberson  succeeded  Hogg  as 
governor  of  Texas  and  held  the  office  for  two  terms  without  seri- 
ous opposition.  His  administration  followed  closely  in  line 
with  that  of  his  predecessor  as  to  policies. 

188  Mrs.  Wm.  M.  Rice  during  the  reunion  gave  to  her  an  elegant  re- 
ception at  the  Capitol  Hotel.  Upon  my  entrance  into  the  room  Miss 
Winnie  rushed  to  me  exclaiming,  "  My  father's  dear  old  friend  and  my 
childhood's  friend,"  and  threw  her  arms  about  my  neck.  This  demon- 
stration of  affection  and  the  rising  memories  of  the  olden  time  filled  my 
eyes  with  tears  to  overflowing. 


640  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


In  1898  Governor  Culberson  was  recommended  at  the  primary 
elections  throughout  the  State  for  United  States  senator.  The 
Legislature  meeting  in  January,  1899,  formally  elected  Mr.  Cul- 
berson to  that  high  office.  The  senior  United  States  senator, 
Hon.  Horace  Chilton,  initiated  the  plan  of  electing  senators  by 
primary  elections  in  his  own  case  in  1894,  leaving  the  formal 
ratification  of  the  popular  choice  to  the  Legislature.  The  pri- 
mary system  for  nominating  all  officials,  it  seems,  has  come  to 
stay. 

On  invitation  of  Governor  Culberson,  I  was  a  member  of  the 
party129  that  accompanied  him  to  the  Trans-Mississippi  exposi- 
tion held  at  Omaha  in  1898,  to  be  present  at  the  exercises  on 
Texas  day.  We  left  Austin  at  7  a.  m.,  August  15th,  over  the 
Houston  &  Texas  Central  Eailway.  One  of  the  most  pleasant 
features  of  the  journey  was  the  reception  accorded  us  as  we 
passed  along.  To  show  us  consideration  the  people  congregated 
at  many  of  the  stations  (representative  citizens  with  their  lovely 
wives  and  daughters),  cheered  for  Texas,  and  called  for  speeches. 
Governor  Culberson  responded  to  most  of  these  demands.  At  a 
town  just  as  we  entered  Kansas,  where  a  large  and  enthusiastic 
concourse  had  assembled,  the  Governor  invited  me  to  go  to  the 
platform  and  introduced  me  as  the  War  Governor  of  Texas,,  and 
the  oldest  ex-Governor  of  the  State.  I  made  a  few  remarks,  say- 
ing by  way  of  conclusion:  "When  I  look  into  your  intelligent 
upturned  faces,  if  it  were  not  for  the  fact  that  I  know  I  am  in 
Kansas,  I  would  take  you  for  Texans."  To  heighten  this  im- 
pression, I  suppose,  they  gave  us  a  genuine  soul-stirring  Texas 
yell  as  our  train  moved  out  of  the  station. 

199  Among  others  of  our  party  were  R.  B.  Hubbard,  R.  W.  Finley, 
Geo.  F.  Pendexter,  John  C.  Meade,  W.  M.  Giles,  E.  P.  Holland,  Eugene 
Williams,  Dr.  B.  M.  Worsham,  Prof.  R.  L.  Batts,  Judge  J.  H.  Robert- 
son, W.  G.  Sterrett,  G.  J.  Palmer,  Tom  Richardson,  W.  A.  Childress, 
R.  U.  Culberson,  Gus  F.  Taylor.  R.  E.  Smith,  L.  A.  Carlton,  L.  8.  Flatau, 
J.  8.  Myrick,  William  Wolf,  and  the  Governor's  staff:  Gen.  A.  P.  Wozen- 
craft,  Col.  J.  D.  Rudd,  Col.  B.  F.  Sherrill,  Col.  R.  J.  Murphy,  Col.  W.B. 
Henderson,  Col.  I.  M.  Standifer,  Col.  8.  E.  Moss,  and  E.  R.  McLean. 
Colonel  Sterret,  of  the  Galveston-Dallas  News,  and  Mr.  Bushick,  of  the 
San  Antonio  Express,  accompanied  and  remained  with  our  party  until 
our  return.  They  were  especially  kind  and  added  much  to  our  enjoy- 
ment. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  641 


At  Omaha  the  address  of  welcome  was  delivered  by  Lieutenant- 
Governor  Holcomb,  of  Nebraska,  and  replied  to  by  Governor  Cul- 
berson.  On  Texas  day,  August  18th,  ex-Governor  Hubbard  was 
orator  of  the  day.  Hubbard's  speech  was  a  magnificent  effort. 
We  were  the  recipients  of  many  courtesies,  and  had  an  enjoyable 
time  during  our  attendance  at  the  exposition. 

During  our  visit  to  the  State  of  William  Jennings  Bryan  we 
would  have  been  glad  to  have  met  him,  for  of  all  the  public  men 
in  the  Union,  he  was  then,  as  he  is  now,  the  most  popular  with 
Texas  Democrats ;  but  owing  to  his  being  absent  we  were  denied 
that  pleasure. 

However,  we  met  many  distinguished  and  pleasant  people, 
and  returned  home  with  most  agreeable  recollections  of  the  peo- 
ple of  the  great  Northwest  and  their  hospitality. 

Assistant  Passenger  Agent  George  had  charge  of  our  train 
and  the  care  of  our  party,  and  he  was  most  attentive  to  our  com- 
fort from  start  to  finish.  To  me  he  was  as  kind  as  a  son  could 
have  been.  We  were  also  under  many  obligations  to  the  officers 
of  the  Eock  Island  Railroad  for  courtesies  extended. 

In  the  canvass  for  the  gubernatorial  nomination  in  1898  Major 
Joseph  D.  Sayers  had  a  walkover,  all  contesting  candidates  hav- 
ing retired  before  the  meeting  of  the  convention  at  Galveston, 
August  4th.  Major  Sayers  was  nominated  by  a  rising  vote,  and  a 
committee  consisting  of  A.  W.  Mclver,  John  W.  Wortham,  and 
myself  escorted  him  to  the  platform,  where  he  was  royally 
greeted,  the  delegates  rising  in  their  seats  and  yelling  and  cheer- 
ing. As  spokesman  for  the  committee,  I  referred  briefly  to 
Major  Sayers'  public  services,  saying  as  to  his  military  record 
that  he  was  the  only  man  I  ever  saw  in  the  field  on  two  crutches. 

In  concluding  his  eloquent  address  of  thanks  and  acceptance, 
Major  Sayers  pledged  himself  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the 
Democratic  party  by  adhering  to  its  principles  and  policies  as 
declared  in  the  platforms,  and,  if  elected,  to  perform  all  his  offi- 
cial duties  honestly,  faithfully,  and  to  the  best  of  his  ability. 

The  other  nominees  were:  J.  1ST.  Browning,  for  Lieutenant- 
Governor ;  Thos.  S.  Smith,  for  Attorney-General ;  R.  W.  Finley, 
for  Comptroller ;  Geo.  W.  Finger,  for  Land  Commissioner ;  John 
W.  Robbins,  for  Treasurer ;  Allison  Mayfield,  for  Railroad  Com- 
missioner; J.  S.  Kendall,  for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
41  • 


(542  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


tion:  Thos.  J.  Brown,  for  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court;  and  M.  M.  Brooks  for  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Criminal 
Appeals. 

The  most  exciting  debate  in  the  convention  was  on  the  ques- 
tion of  expansion,  arising  from  our  victories  on  land  and  sea  in 
the  Spanish  war.  The  platform  utterance  on  the  subject  (ad- 
vocated by  Senator  Horace  Chilton  and  opposed  by  Congressman 
Joseph  W.  Bailey)  favored  expansion  in  the  western  hemisphere, 
but  not  in  the  eastern;  that  is  to  say,  retention  of  West  India 
Islands  but  not  of  the  Philippines.  The  platform  declared  the  war 
to  have  been  forced  upon  us  by  the  misconduct  of  Spain;130  prom- 
ised the  President  of  the  United  States  the  full  support  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  all  measures  necessary  to  conduct  the  war 
to  an  early  and  successful  end;  favored  the  generous  develop- 
ment of  the  American  navy;  favored  the  construction  and  con- 
trol of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  by  the  United  States,  and  denounced 
the  revenue  bill  passed  by  the  Eepublican  party. 

An  important  feature  of  the  platform  was  a  plank  favoring 
the  appointment  by  the  Legislature  of  a  committee  to  inquire 
into  our  State  financial  system,  including  the  whole  subject  of 
taxation,  and  to  formulate  measures  of  reform. 

I  stood  squarely  upon  the  State  Democratic  platform  through- 
out, and  I  shall  continue  to  do  so,  accepting  the  changes,  if  any, 
made  by  the  next  National  Democratic  convention.  Our  whole 
ticket  was  easily  elected  by  an  immense  majority,  only  the  Popu- 
lists offering  a  feeble  resistance.  The  political  excitement  soon 
changed  to  an  era  of  good  feeling.  Accordingly,  the  new  ad- 
ministration opened  under  the  most  favorable  auspices.181 

Public  anticipation  as  to  the  success  of  the  new  administration 
appears,  after  a  year's  trial,  to  be  well  justified.  Indeed,  no 

180  As  an  American  citizen,  I  hold  that  the  best  result  of  the  late 
Spanish  war  has  been  the  restoration  of  fraternal  feeling  between  the 
once  discordant  and  belligerent  sections  of  our  country. 

181  Among  Governor  Sayers'  appointments  in  the  capitol  were  C.  Jef- 
ferson Johnson  to  continue  in  his  office  as  Commissioner  of  Agriculture, 
Insurance,  Statistics,   and  History;    D.  H.  Hardy,  Secretary  of  State; 
Joe  Lee  Jameson,  Financial  Agent;  Thomas  Scurry,  Adjutant  General; 
L.  P.  Sicker,  Quartermaster  Frontier  Battalion;  and  Capt.  Sam  Harlan, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds — all  admirable  selec- 
tions. 


LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS.  643 


serious  damage  could  befall  Texas  under  Democratic  rule,  for 
Democracy  has  always  stood  for  good  government. 

The  founders  of  the  Republic — for  there  were  giants  in  those 
days — by  devotion  to  Democratic  principles  made  possible  the 
Texas  of  to-day.  The  spirit  of  '36,  tested  by  the  fires  of  1861-74, 
lives  immortal  in  the  heart  of  every  true  Texan. 

In  conclusion,  my  prayer  is  that  Texas  may  continue,  one  and 
indivisible,  as  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude  in  the  American  con- 
stellation. 


APPENDIX. 


TEXAS  POETS'  TRIBUTE. 

The  following  verses  to  the  memory  of  my  brother,  Thomas  S.  Lub' 
bock,  were  written  by  our  mutual  friends,  William  M.  Gilleland*  and 
Alfred  M.  Hobby,  both  of  whom  are  now  dead: 

LINES 

ON  THE  DEATH  OF  COLONEL  THOMAS  S.  LUBBOCK. 

BY  WM.  M.  GILLELAND. 
Respectfully  inscribed  to  Mrs.  F.  R.  Lubbock. 

I  sing  now  in  the  minstrel's  strain, 

Though  heaviness  of  heart  is  mine, 
That  I  must  touch  my  harp  again, 

.While  bending  at  a  warrior's  shrine; 
Though  cold  and  calm  in  death  he  lies, 

The  sun-light  of  his  fame  shall  glow 
From  where  the  Aztec  dungeons  rise, 

To  where  Potomac's  waters  flow. 

Proud  sepulchres  inurn  their  bones, 

And  columns  rise  where  despots  sleep, 
Who  paved  their  way  with  human  groans, 

To  climb  ambition's  treacherous  steep; 
But  they  will  moulder  back  to  dust, 

Nor  leave  a  vestige  of  their  name; 
While  patriots,  to  their  country  just, 

Bequeath  to  grateful  hearts  their  fame! 

The  bells,  with  iron  tongues  and  slow, 

Toll  for  the  warrior's  sable  car, 
And  thrill  those  streets  with  notes  of  woe, 

Whence  lately  dashed  his  steeds  to  war! 
The  death  drum  beats  its  solemn  strain, 

And  o'er  his  bier  proud  banners  wave, 
While  thousands  swell  the  funeral  train 

That  bears  brave  LUBBOCK  to  his  grave! 

*  Brother  of  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.  Fisher,  now  (1900)  president  of  Travis 
Chapter,  Daughters  of  the  Republic. 


646  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS, 


And  Texas  mourns  her  gallant  son, 

Who  freedom  valued  more  than  life, 
And  promptly  rushed  where  death  is  won, 

When  sounded  first  the  notes  of  strife! 
For  well  she  knows  that,  though  denied 

The  death  he  wooed,  if  death  must  come, 
Ne'er  nobler  patriot  ever  died, 

Nor  braver  soldier  met  his  doom. 

Dread  Alamo!    thy  walls  can  tell, 

How  human  tides  surged  on  thy  breast, 
And  freedom's  lions  proudly  fell, 

From  tyrant  hands  thy  halls  to  wrest; 
There,  herbage  rank,  and  hoary  trees, 

In  leaves  and  blossoms  bear  on  high 
The  sacred  blood  and  dust  they  seize 

From  hero  hearts  that  round  them  lie! 

Now  cold  in  death  lies  LUBBOCK'S  form; 

Yet,  Alamo,  thy  rampart  knew 
How,  'mid  the  battle's  fiery  storm, 

On — on  to  scale  their  heights  he  flew! 
And  how,  with  comrades  true  and  brave, 

He  nobly  fought  the  bloody  fray; 
How  foemen  found  a  gory  grave, 

And  Texians  won  a  glorious  day! 

And  where  are  they — his  comrades  brave, 

Those  patriot  hearts  of  high  degree, 
Who  fought,  their  country's  rights  to  save, 

And  make  her  noble,  proud  and  free? 
Alas,  but  few  now  grace  the  land, 

And  these  but  feebly  hold  their  place, 
Where  strangers  boldly  now  demand, 

The  honors  due  their  gallant  race. 

Oh,  peaceful,  LUBBOCK,  be  thy  rest! 

Thine  is  a  name  "not  born  to  die," 
And  mid  the  valiant  spirits  blest, 

No  purer  one  illumes  the  sky — 
The  mural  bay  and  laurel  bloom, 

Meet  emblems  of  the  warrior's  fame — 
Thine  are  they  now,  to  grace  thy  tomb, 

And  be  all  deathless  as  thy  name! 


APPENDIX.  647 


TO    THE    MEMORY    OF 

COL.   THOMAS   S.   LUBBOCK, 

Who  Died  at 

NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  ON  THURSDAY,  JANUARY  9,  1862, 
While  in  the  Service  of  His  Country, 

COMMANDING   THE   TEXAS   RANGERS. 

Dedicated   to    Gov.   F.   R.   Lubbock, 
By  Alfred  M.  Hobby. 

Drape  in  gloom  our  Southern  Ensign, 

Gently  fold  its  crimson  bars, 
While  cypress-wreaths  around  we  twine 

And  dim  with  tears  its  burning  stars. 
Hearts  are  throbbing,  eyes  are  weeping 

Tears  on  noble  Lubbock's  grave, 
Calm  in  death  his  form  is  sleeping, 

Lamented  Lubbock,  true  and  brave. 

But  yesterday  the  minute  gun 

Came  booming  on  our  shore, 
And  on  our  day  a  shadow  hung, 

Brave  Terry  was  no  more. 
He  died  on  the  soil  that  gave  him  birth, 

Defending  his  country's  trust, 
Our  vandal  foes  he  crushed  to  earth, 

Like  servile  worms  of  dust. 

Then  Lubbock  unto  thee  we  turned 

To  lead  our  Texian  band, 
We  knew  what  fires  within  thee  burned, 

What  courage  nerved  thy  hand; 
We  felt  that  thou  wouldst  win  from  fame, 

A  laurel-wreath  of  glory, 
And  deeds  of  valor  give  thy  name 

High  place  in  Southern  story. 

When,  years  ago,  a  single  star 

Illum'nd  our  Western  sky, 
Its  radiant  beams  were  hailed  afar, 

And  caught  his  youthful  eye. 
Forsaking  home,  to  aid  the  brave, 

F.OCS  and  dangers  scorning, 
To  his  adopted  Mother  gave 

The  vigor  of  life's  morning. 


648  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Where'er  her  ensign  was  unfurled. 

Beneath  were  souls  to  dare, 
And  valor's  arm  foes  backward  hurl'd. 

In  victory's  meteor  glare. 
He  saw  it  wave — that  Lone  Star  flag — 

Above  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
Where  frozen  tears  from  the  icy  crag 

Weep  into  silver  fountains. 

He  saw  that  flag  reflected  gleam 

Down  deep  in  Pecos'  river — 
Its  azure  folds,  its  silvery  sheen, 

On  flowing  waters  quiver. 
He  saw  it  meet  the  rising  day 

On  Santa  Fe's  broad  plain, 
Which,  cold  and  cheerless,  stretched  away 

Where  gloom  and  silence  reign. 

He  saw  that  star  the  heavens  climb 

Through  battles'  lurid  light, 
Still  upward,  in  its  strength  sublime — 

Unutterably  bright. 
In  Aztecs'  dungeons,  dark  and  deep, 

Its  beams  resplendent  shedding, 
He  heard  success,  along  Fame's  steep, 

Our  mystic  future  treading. 

Unchanging  still — through  rest  or  toil 

His  heart  for  Texas  burning; 
It  loved  her  sons  and  blood-bought  soil; 

It  knew  no  shade  of  turning. 
And  when  our  honor  was  assailed. 

Indignant  shouts  were  raised; 
The  Lone  Star  fluttered  in  the  gale, 

And  reddened,  flashed,  and  blazed. 

It  swept  on  high  the  fleecy  cloud — 

It  sought  a  loftier  station; 
And  joined,  'midst  cheers  of  Freemen,  loud, 

The  "Southern  Constellation!" 
And  there  it  shines — God  bless  that  Star — 

God  bless  her  sister  stars; 
'Tis  Venus  in  the  days  of  peace, 

In  war  the  planet  Mars. 


APPENDIX. 


Upon  Manassas'  gory  field, 

Where  fell  the  shafts  of  death, 
Its  new-born  splendor  stood  revealed 

'Midst  battle's  sulphurous  breath. 
Where  thickest  rain'd  war's  iron  hail, 

And  gush'd  the  crimson  tide, 
Undaunted  there  our  Lubbock  stood, 

Brave  Terry  by  his  side. 

Far  in  advance,  on  Fairfax  heights, 

Rais'd  by  a  tyrant's  minion, 
They  struck  the  flag  that  dared  insult 

Our  honor'd  Old  Dominion. 
Enough!    They  were  strong  friends  in  youth- 

In  spring  time's  pleasant  weather — 
Two  souls  close  bound  in  bonds  of  truth — 

In  death  they  sleep  together. 

Time's  brightest  page  their  names  adorn, 

Their  deeds  are  history's  trusts, 
And  fame's  green  laurels,  fresh  as  morn 

Will  crown  their  honored  busts. 
The  fevered  frame  and  aching  head 

Of  Lubbock  is  at  rest; 
He  sleepeth  well  'neath  Southern  skies, 

Still  looking  to  the  West. 

Proud  Carolina's  never  borne 

A  truer  son  or  braver; 
And  like  herself  would  trample  on 

Power's  threat  or  favor.  ' 

But  pulseless  lies  that  heart  of  worth 

Beneath  the  swelling  sod, 
His  body  with  its  mother  earth, 

His  spirit  with  its  God. 

On  hearts  bereaved  a  pall  is  cast, 

And  withered  seems  life's  flowers; 
Oh!  let  your  tears  flow  free  and  fast, 

With  them  shall  mingle  ours. 
Eternal   honor   to   the  brave. 

May  Spring  her  garlands  wreathe 
Immortal  blooms  to  deck  his  grave, 

And  Christ  his  soul  receive. 


650  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


SPEECH  ON  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

Delivered  by  me  at  a  joint  session  of  the  Twenty-second  Legislature, 
held  in  the  Senate  chamber  on  the  evening  of  March  8,  1891,  the 
occasion  being  the  presentation  of  a  portrait  of  Jefferson  Davis. 

Mr.  President,  Members  of  the  Twenty-second  Legislature,  and  Ladies 

and   Gentlemen: 

I  am  accorded  by  this  august  body  the  distinguished  honor  of  appear- 
ing before  you,  and  at  the  request  of  my  friends,  B.  Eldridge,  C.  C.  Gar- 
rett,  W.  W.  Searcy,  D.  C.  Giddings,  Jr.,  and  Beauregard  Bryan  of  Bren- 
ham,  Washington  County,  to  present  in  their  behalf  through  you  to 
the  Senate  of  Texas  and  the  people  of  Texas  the  portrait  of  Jefferson 
Davis,  one  of  our  most  illustrious  countrymen. 

This  magnificent  portrait  is  the  product  of  the  genius  of  McArdle. 
The  artist  was  for  some  twelve  months  during  the  war  on  detached  duty 
in  the  city  of  Richmond,  and  saw  Mr.  Davis  very  often.  It  was  also 
his  good  fortune  to  have  as  his  model  before  him  the  great  head  of  the 
Confederacy  as  he  stood  in  tears  before  the  artist's  "Lee  at  the  Wilder- 
ness." In  1875,  during  his  visit  to  this  State,  Mrs.  Davis,  too,  kindly 
assisted  with  her  personal  description  of  the  man  so  dear  to  her  and 
the  people  of  the  Southern  States.  She  wrote:  "Mr.  Davis  was  five 
feet  eleven  and  one-half  inches;  his  eyes  were  blue  and  very  bright; 
they  were  a  decided  blue,  with  large  pupils;  the  arch  of  the  eyelid  was 
abrupt  and  the  eye  was  well  opened  and  very  fearless  in  its  expression; 
his  hair  was  full  and  fell  on  his  head  in  large  soft  curves — not  curls, 
only  it  had  never  a  stiff  effect,  and  was  very  fine  and  abundant." 

The  expression  of  the  face  is  that  of  lofty  and  firm  resolve,  traceable 
no  doubt  to  the  matter  contained  in  the  dispatches  held  gracefully  in  his 
left  hand.  His  right  hand  rests  firmly  and  naturally  on  a  map  of  Rich- 
mond defenses,  showing  the  cause  for  which  he  contended,  the  map  in 
turn  resting  upon  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

The  expression  of  the  body  is  that  of  action;  the  fingers  of  the  right 
hand  are  vigorously  raised,  while  the  left  leg  is  boldly  advanced,  all 
together  depicting  the  energy  of  action,  mental  and  physical,  which  was 
a  characteristic  of  Jefferson  Davis. 

You  see  the  battle-torn  flag  which  drapes  the  portrait.  It  is  the  flag 
of  the  regiment  of  Mississippians  led  by  Jefferson  Davis  at  Monterey. 
It  was  presented  to  the  company  of  Capt.  A.  K.  McClung  by  the  ladies 
of  Columbus,  Mississippi,  in  1846,  when  the  volunteers  were  leaving  for 
the  Mexican  war,  and  was  received  by  the  color  sergeant,  George  W. 
Campbell,  whose  widow  now  treasures  the  relic.  Miss  Kate  Austin  made 
the  presentation  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  whose  deft  fingers  formed  the 
flag  from  their  own  silk  dresses,  the  white  being  from  the  wedding 
dress  of  Mrs.  Dr.  Malone,  of  Columbus.  At  the  storming  of  Monterey 


APPENDIX.  651 


it  was  used  as  the  regimental  colors,  and  the  bullet  rents  show  that  it 
was  carried  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  There  the  brave  McClung  fell 
desperately  wounded. 

While  I  feel  very  deeply  the  compliment  paid  me,  I  could  have  wished 
that  the  duty,  although  pleasing,  had  been  allotted  to  some  more  elo- 
quent tongue;  yet  I  will  say  that  it  could  not  have  been  assigned  to 
any  one  feeling  a  deeper  veneration  and  love  for  the  dead  hero  and 
statesman.  I  approach  the  subject  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  great 
undertaking,  for  the  story  of  his  life  and  death  has  been  told  in  prose 
and  song  by  many  of  the  ablest  minds  of  our  country,  and  I  fear  that 
I  can  add  but  little  to  what  has  been  said  to  interest  you,  and  more 
especially  as  the  most  of  you  were  present  at  the  beautiful,  interesting 
memorial  services  in  the  other  chamber  this  afternoon.  I  shall,  how- 
ever, endeavor  to  place  before  you  something  of  the  history  of  this  great 
man,  and  of  my  observation  and  recollection  of  him,  gained  from  the 
closest  intimacy  and  friendship.  Should  I  dwell  too  long  on  his  life, 
character,  and  many  virtues,  bear  with  me  for  the  love  I  cherish  for  the 
memory  of  one  of  whose  friendship  while  living  I  am  greatly  proud. 

HIS   BIRTH,   EARLY   HISTORY,   ETC. 

Jefferson  Davis  was  born  June  3,  1808,  in  Christian  County,  Ky.,  now 
Todd  County;  the  village  of  Fair  View  the  place.  The  Baptist  church 
now  stands  on  the  very  spot  which  gave  him  birth,  the  land  having  been 
quite  recently  donated  by  him  (he  being  an  Episcopalian  and  a  poor 
man  when  making  the  gift).  His  father  was  Samuel  Davis,  a  native 
of  Georgia,  and  a  captain  of  infantry  at  the  siege  of  Savannah  during 
the  Revolution.  While  yet  an  infant  his  father  removed  to  Wilkinson 
County,  Mississippi.  After  attending  the  neighborhood  schools,  in  1824, 
at  the  age  of  16  he  entered  West  Point,  graduating  in  1828.  Then  an 
infantry  officer,  he  was  assigned  to  duty  on  the  western  frontier,  where 
he  remained  until  1833. 

An  occurrence  took  place  while  stationed  there  showing  the  fine  sense 
of  honor  which  ever  characterized  the  man.  The  officer  in  command 
having  been  guilty  of  excesses  and  unsoldierly  conduct,  the  officer  com- 
manding the  department  desired  Captain  Davis  to  prefer  charges;  he 
declined.  The  officer  insisted  and  threatened  proceedings  against  Davis 
if  he  continued  to  refuse.  Davis  then  told  him  that  he  would  resign 
rather  than  prefer  the  charges,  and  when  his  reasons  for  refusing  were 
demanded,  his  reply  was,  "his  dismissal  would  result  in  my  promotion." 
Shortly  after  he  was  transferred  to  a  dragoon  regiment.  After  a  suc- 
cessful campaign  against  the  Indians,  he  resigned  in  1835.  He  left  the 
army  for  the  purpose  of  fullfilling  an  engagement  of  several  years  stand- 
ing, and  married  the  daughter  of  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  (subsequently 
President  of  the  United  States).  It  may  be  stated  here  that  much  has 
been  said  about  Davis  running  away  with  the  General's  daughter.  It's 
a  great  mistake.  It  is  true  that  the  General  made  some  objections.  The 
mother  was  dead,  but  they  were  married  at  the  home  of  a  near  relative 


052  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


of  the  bride.  After  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  the  General  remarked 
"that  his  daughter  was  a  better  judge  of  men  than  he."  After  marrying 
he  became  a  cotton  planter  in  Warren  County,  Mississippi.  He  lost  his 
wife  shortly  afterwards,  and  lived  in  great  seclusion  until  1843.  In 
those  long  years  he  was  reading,  thinking,  and  preparing  himself  to 
meet  the  subsequent  demands  made  upon  him  by  his  fellow  men. 

POLITICAL   CAREER. 

In  1843  he  for  the  first  time  engaged  in  politics.  In  1844  he  was 
chosen  a  presidential  elector  in  the  Polk  campaign.  In  1845  he  was 
elected  to  Congress.  In  June,  1846,  at  the  commencement  of  hostilities 
between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  he  was  elected  colonel  of  the 
Mississippi  regiment.  It  would  be  useless  to  dwell  at  any  length  upon 
his  marked  ability  and  gallantry  as  a  soldier  in  that  war.  The  history 
of  the  times  has  given  him  and  the  gallant  Mississippians  under  his 
command  a  name  for  patriotism  and  heroism  on  the  battle  field  that 
will  last  to  all  time.  He  was  seriously  wounded  at  the  bloody  battle  of 
Buena  Vista,  remaining,  however,  in  his  saddle  and  in  command  the 
entire  day.  In  consequence  of  this  wound  and  his  continuing  on  horse- 
back for  hours  afterward,  he  was  compelled  to  return  home  on  crutches. 
Previous  to  his  return  President  Polk  had  appointed  him  a  brigadier- 
general  of  volunteers.  He  declined  to  accept  the  appointment,  because 
he  denied  the  right  of  the  President  to  make  such  appointment,  con- 
tending that  volunteers  were  militia,  and  the  State  had  the  appointment 
of  officers  under  the  Constitution.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  he  was  ever 
found  battling  for  the  reserved  rights  of  the  States  and  resisting  all 
encroachments  of  the  Federal  government  upon  the  States.  In  1847, 
in  consequence  of  the  death  of  a  Mississippi  senator,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Governor  to  the  vacancy.  In  January,  1848,  he  was  unanimously 
elected  by  the  Legislature  to  fill  the  unexpired  term,  and  in  1850  was 
elected  for  the  full  term  as  his  own  successor.  In  the  United  States 
Senate  he  was  chairman  of  the  military  committee.  He  took  a  promi- 
nent and  active  part  in  the  debates  on  the  compromise  measures  of  1850, 
opposing  Douglas  and  others  in  their  theory  of  squatter  sovereignty, 
and  advocating  as  a  means  of  pacification  the  extension  of  the  Missouri 
compromise  line  to  the  Pacific.  He  was  Secretary  of  War  during  Mr. 
Pierce's  administration,  serving  the  entire  four  years.  As  Secretary  of 
War  he  was  laborious,  full  of  energy,  activity,  originality.  It  was  he 
who  introduced  camels  for  service  on  the  western  plains,  an  improved 
system  of  infantry  tactics,  effected  the  substitution  of  iron  for  wood  in 
gun  carriages,  secured  rifled  muskets  and  rifles  and  the  use  of  minie 
balls,  and  advocated  the  increase  of  the  defenses  of  the  seacoast  by  heavy 
guns  and  the  use  of  large  grain  powder. 

While  in  the  Senate  he  advocated  as  a  military  necessity,  and  as  a 
means  of  preserving  the  Pacific  territory  to  the  Union,  the  construction 
of  a  military  railway  across  the  continent;  and  as  Secretary  of  War 
he  was  put  in  charge  of  the  surveys  of  the  various  routes  proposed,  per- 


APPENDIX.  653 


haps  for  a  similar  reason — that  he  had  advocated  the  improvement.  He 
was  also  put  in  charge  of  the  extensions  of  the  United  States  capitol 
building.  The  southern  route  recommended  by  him  was  one  of  the  routes 
subsequently  chosen.  When  Congress  met  in  the  fall  of  1860  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  Senate  committee  of  thirteen  to  report  some  prac- 
ticable adjustment  of  the  controversies  which  then  threatened  the  dis- 
solution of  the  Union.  He  wished  to  be  excused,  but  at  the  solicitation 
of  friends  consented  to  serve,  then  avowing  his  willingness  to  make  any 
sacrifice  to  avert  the  impending  struggle.  The  committee  consisted  of 
men  belonging  to  the  three  political  divisions  of  the  Senate,  the  States 
Rights  men  of  the  South,  Radicals  of  the  North,  and  Northern  Demo- 
crats, with  one  member  who  did  not  acknowledge  himself  as  belonging 
to  any  one  of  the  three  divisions, — Mr.  Crittenden,  an  old-time  Whig 
and  the  original  mover  of  the  compromise  resolution.  The  Northern 
Radicals  failed  to  sanction  any  substantive  proposition.  Finally  the 
committee  reported  their  failure  to  find  anything  on  which  the  three 
divisions  could  unite.  Mr.  Douglas,  who  was  a  member  of  the  com- 
mittee, defiantly  challenged  the  Northern  Radicals  to  tell  what  they 
wanted.  As  they  had  refused  everything,  he  claimed  that  they  ought 
to  be  willing  to  tell  what  they  proposed  to  do. 

Senator  Davis  remained  in  his  seat  until  officially  informed  that  Mis- 
sissippi had  passed  the  ordinance  of  secession.  He  then  took  formal 
leave  of  the  Senate  in  a  most  touching  and  dignified  manner,  announc- 
ing for  the  last  time  in  that  body  the  opinions  he  had  so  often  expressed 
as  to  State  sovereignty,  and  as  a  consequence  of  it,  the  right  of  a  State 
to  withdraw  its  delegated  powers.  Before  he  reached  his  State  he  was 
appointed  by  the  convention  of  Mississippi  commander-in-chief  of  its 
army,  with  the  rank  of  major-general,  and  he  at  once  proceeded  with 
the  task  of  organization.  He  went  to  his  home  in  Warren  County  in 
order  to  prepare  for  what  he  believed  was  to  be  a  long  and  severe 
struggle.  He  was  not  permitted  to  remain  at  home,  for  he  was  very 
soon  notified  that  he  had  been  elected  Provisional  President  of  the  Con- 
federate States,  and  although  reluctant  to  accept  the  position,  the  cir- 
cumstances surrounding  the  country  would  not  justify  a  refusal,  and 
he  was  inaugurated  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  on  February  18,  1861, 
with  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  of  Georgia,  as  Vice-President. 

In  his  autobiography,  from  which  I  take  the  facts  of  his  life  before 
my  acquaintance  with  him,  he  said:  "In  the  selection  of  a  cabinet  I 
was  relieved  from  a  difficulty  which  surrounds  that  duty  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  for  there  were  'no  sections'  and  'no  party 
distinctions.'  All  aspirations,  ambitions,  and  interests  had  been  merged 
in  the  great  desire  for  Confederate  independence."  He  asserted  in  his 
inaugural  address  "that  necessity,  not  choice,  had  led  to  the  secession 
of  the  Southern  States;  that  as  an  agricultural  people  their  policy  was 
peace  and  free  commerce  with  all  the  world;  that  the  constituent  parts, 
not  the  system  of  government,  had  been  changed." 

Following  the  many  able  writers  and  distinguished  orators  who  have 
written  and  spoken  of  the  illustrious  dead,  whose  portrait  we  behold  to- 


654  LUB BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


day,  those  that  have  said  so  much  of  his  patriotism,  his  great  intellect, 
his  grand  integrity  of  purpose  in  all  things,  his  Christian  virtues,  his 
heroism,  I  trust  that  you,  my  friends  and  the  people  of  this  grand  Em- 
pire State  of  ours,  with  whom  I  have  been  so  closely  linked  for  the  past 
fifty-four  years,  will  not  charge  me  with  presumption  or  guilty  of  super- 
erogation because  I  may  speak  of  my  friend  and  grand  chief  as  I  learned 
to  know  him  from  constant  association  under  circumstances  never  fail- 
ing to  develop  the  characteristics  and  metal  of  the  man.  I  had  met  Mr. 
Davis  in  1860  in  Washington  as  a  United  States  senator,  and  while 
knowing  but  little  of  him  personally,  he  was  of  course  known  to  me,  as 
he  was  to  all  men  who  read,  as  an  army  officer,  a  distinguished  soldier, 
a  brilliant  senator,  an  active  and  able  cabinet  officer. 

I  also  knew  him  as  the  man  that  Ben  Butler,  of  Massachusetts,  sitting 
within  a  few  feet  of  me  at  the  Charleston  convention  in  1860,  had  voted 
for  fifty-six  times  as  a  suitable  person  to  be  President  of  the  United 
States,  so  that  I  was  prepared  to  meet  a  distinguished  man.  In  my  view 
he  came  up  fully  to  the  standard  fixed  upon  him  at  that  day,  and  stood 
as  the  peer  of  any  man  then  in  the  councils  of  the  government.  Enter- 
taining these  views,  as  soon  as  I  was  chosen  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Texas  in  1861,  I  repaired  to  Richmond,  Va.,  that  I  might  take  counsel 
of  this  great  mind  and  endeavor  to  so  shape  my  course  touching  the  war 
as  to  give  strength  and  prosperity  to  the  Confederate  cause.  I  found 
him  then  at  the  front,  where  he  always  was  when  his  civil  duties  per- 
mitted. 

I  was  again  confirmed  in  my  previously  formed  opinion  of  his  ability, 
integrity,  and  patriotism.  Returning  home  I  was  inaugurated,  and 
through  my  administration  Texas  kept  in  harmony  with  the  govern- 
ment at  Richmond,  putting  into  the  Confederate  service  90,000  men. 
Upon  the  expiration  of  my  term  as  Governor,  entering  the  army,  and 
while  serving  in  Louisiana,  Mr.  Davis  appointed  me  on  his  staff,  with 
the  rank  of  colonel  of  cavalry,  had  my  nomination  confirmed  by  the 
Senate  without  my  knowledge,  and  requested  me,  if  I  accepted,  to  re- 
port at  once  for  duty:  that  he  wished  an  officer  near  him  as  a  repre- 
sentative from  the  trans-Mississippi  country. 

After  an  immediate  and  hurried  consultation  with  Generals  Wharton, 
Hardeman,  and  Harrison,  and  others  of  my  military  associates,  I  left 
for  Richmond  in  a  few  hours.  My  reception  was  all  I  could  have  de- 
sired. Mr.  Davis,  always  kind  and  polite,  assured  me  of  his  pleasure 
at  my  coming  so  promptly,  and  made  me  feel  quite  at  home  in  his  mili- 
tary family. 

My  first  impression  when  I  entered  into  his  presence  confirmed  my 
previously  formed  opinion  of  his  grand  and  dignified  character,  of  his 
patriotism  and  devotion  to  the  work  to  which  he  had  been  called  by  a 
trusting  people.  Constant  attendance  day  by  day  upon  the  executive, 
while  in  his  office,  or  during  his  very  frequent  visits  to  the  field,  the 
camp,  and  tho  hospital,  founded  in  my  heart  a  strong  love  for  the  man, 
and  still  more  increased  my  admiration  for  the  soldier  and  statesman. 

Frequently  visiting  his  home  in  Richmond  and  seeing  him  with  his 


APPENDIX.  655 


talented  and  lovely  wife,  surrounded  by  his  children,  I  knew  him  as  the 
npble  husband  and  affectionate  Christian  parent. 

Beside  the  happiness  of  his  family,  he  appeared  never  to  be  concerned 
about  anything  but  the  welfare  of  his  people. 

From  the  day  I  took  service  with  him  to  the  very  moment  that  we 
were  so  cruelly  separated,  subsequent  to  our  capture,  his  request  that  I 
should  be  placed  in  the  same  prison  with  him  being  denied,  all  through 
his  triumph  and  his  adversity,  I  witnessed  his  unselfishness.  He  dis- 
played more  self-abnegation  than  any  human  being  I  have  ever  known. 
While  commander-in-chief,  with  thousands  at  his  bidding,  he  invariably 
declined  escorts  and  guard,  and  when  cautioned  about  exposing  himself 
to  danger  he  always  replied,  "I  have  no  fear  for  myself,"  and  in  the 
most  unpretentious  manner  he  would  visit  the  lines  of  the  army  oftener 
with  one  aide  than  more.  While  fond  of  society  he  rarely,  though  often 
pressed,  ever  sought  it  during  the  war,  it  being  his  pleasant  duty  to 
give  every  hour  of  his  time  to  his  country.  While  burdened  with 
weighty  matters  of  state,  he  was  kindly  attentive  to  all  classes  of  peo- 
ple. He  was  as  polite  and  affable  to  the  humblest  soldier  or  his  mes- 
senger boy  as  to  the  officer  of  highest  rank  in  the  army.  For  this,  and 
his  many  great  virtues,  he  was  loved  by  all  who  served  near  his  person. 
He  was  always  welcomed  with  great  respect  and  cordiality  when  visit- 
ing the  troops  in  their  quarters.  It  has  been  asserted  that  he  was  harsh 
and  severe  to  those  with  whom  he  differed.  This  is  an  entire  misappre- 
hension of  his  nature  and  disposition.  Though  tenacious  of  his  own 
opinions  and  quite  fixed  in  his  judgments  when  formed,  he  seemed  to  me 
to  be  much  more  tolerant  than  other  men  of  ability  and  power  with 
whom  I  have  been  associated.  While  others  would  be  intolerant  and 
very  exacting  during  our  struggle,  he  would  be  the  apologist  of  many 
who  failed  in  their  duties,  treating  delinquents  with  compassion  and 
leniency.  I  may  here  be  permitted  to  state  as  a  historical  fact  that  he 
never  signed  the  death  warrant  of  a  soldier,  and  upon  one  memorable 
occasion  the  papers  were  sent  him  condemning  a  soldier  to  death  for 
desertion.  The  papers  showed  letter  after  letter  had  been  received  by 
the  soldier  about  the  distressed  condition  of  his  family.  They  were 
suffering  from  sickness  and  want.  Mr.  Davis  indorsed  on  the  papers, 
"I  would  have  gone  home  under  such  circumstances,"  which  of  course 
saved  the  life  of  the  soldier. 

HIS    VISIT    TO    FRANCE,    ENGLAND,    AND    SCOTLAND. 

After  the  war  was  over,  I  had  the.  good  fortune  of  traveling  with  him 
in  France,  England,  and  Scotland.  It  is  known  that  as  an  orator  he 
was  seldom  equaled;  as  a  conversationalist  he  surpassed  all  I  have  ever 
met.  His  accurate  observations  and  extensive  reading  made  him  most 
charming  as  a  companion,  and  as  a  traveling  companion  the  life  of  any 
party. 

He  visited  those  countries  for  the  purposes  of  business  and  to  build 
up  his  shattered  health,  brought  about  by  great  strain  upon  him  and 


650  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


long  imprisonment.  In  his  travels  he  wa»  always  the  same  dignified 
and  elegant  gentleman  that  he  was  while  a  citizen,  senator,  cabinet 
officer,  or  President.  He  had  friends  and  admirers  wherever  he  went. 
He  was  always  attractive  and  instructive  in  conversation.  He  was 
greatly  appreciated  and  admired  by  those  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact; particularly  was  this  the  case  in  France  and  Scotland.  We  visited 
the  homes  of  Shakespeare,  Scott,  and  Burns,  all  favorite  authors  of  his. 
From  Scott  and  Burns  he  freely  quoted.  While  we  traveled  through 
Scotland  with  his  friends,  he  would  describe  their  battlefields,  their 
heroes,  quote  Scott,  and  recite  Burns  in  such  a  beautiful  and  accurate 
manner  that  in  a  little  book  published  subsequently  in  Glasgow  it  is 
said,  in  speaking  of  his  visit,  "that  if  the  works  of  Scott  were  destroyed 
the  ex-President  of  the  Confederate  States  could  reproduce  them." 

In  visiting  the  ship  yards  on  the  Clyde  and  Dumbarton,  the  ship 
builders  would  be  so  impressed  with  his  knowledge  of  ship  building  that 
they  would  inquire  if  he  had  ever  been  connected  with  the  building  of 
ships;  and  so  his  knowledge  of  woodcraft  and  botany,  and  his  great  in- 
formation as  to  animals  and  all  subjects  of  discussion  and  conversation, 
were  considered  truly  surprising. 

VISIT   TO    TEXAS    IN    1875. 

But  a  greater  pleasure  than  being  in  these  foreign  countries  with 
him  was  accorded  me  when  he  visited  Texas.  I  will  tell  you  about  that 
joyful  time. 

From  the  day  Mr.  Davis  was  released  from  prison  by  the  United 
States  government  the  people  of  Texas  were  solicitous  to  have  him  pay 
them  a  visit.  They  were  not  moved  by  idle  curiosity;  they  were  anxious 
to  show  the  love  and  respect  they  bore  him.  This  kindly  feeling  and  re- 
spect was  reciprocated  by  him.  He  knew  them  as  brave  soldiers  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  Republic,  he  had  witnessed  their  gallantry  in 
the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  and  later  in  the  war 
between  the  States,  and  thus  drawn  toward  them  he  invariably  replied 
to  their  solicitations  that  as  soon  as  a  favorable  opportunity  offered  he 
would  visit  the  people  he  had  ever  held  in  such  high  regard.  Finally 
in  May,  1875,  a  committee  of  citizens  invited  him  to  vU?it  the  State  dur- 
ing the  fair  at  Houston.  The  following  characteristic  reply  was  re- 
ceived: 

"ViCKSBUBG,  Miss.,  May  5,   1875. 

"Col.  F.  K.  Lubbock:  My  Dear  Sir — I  am  engaged  in  a  matter  of 
much  importance  to  me  and  of  no  little  complexity.  If  it  is  possible 
for  me  to  arrange  matters  so  that  I  can  leave,  it  will  give  me  sincere 
pleasure  to  meet  the  good  people  of  Texas,  whose  kindness  impresses 
me  with  heartfelt  gratitude. 

"As  heretofore,  I  am  compelled  to  say,  do  not  expect  me,  but  if  I  do 
not  go  the  regret  will  surely  be  deeper  on  my  part  than  I  can  suppose 
it  will  be  on  that  of  others.  As  ever,  truly  your  friend, 

"JEFFERSON  DAVIS." 


APPENDIX.  657 


He  came,  however,  on  a  very  short  notice  to  the  committee.  He  was 
received  at  Galveston  with  marked  respect  and  attention,  although  he 
arrived  on  Sunday,  and  attended  divine  services  at  the  Episcopal  church 
during  the  day.  The  next  morning  he  proceeded  to  Houston.  The  notice 
of  his  coming  was  very  short,  but  thousands  thronged  the  city  to  meet 
their  illustrious  ex-President,  and  never  was  an  arrival  marked  by 
stronger  demonstrations  of  love  and  affection  from  a  people.  His  ad- 
dress at  the  fair  grounds  captured  his  hearers,  old  and  young.  The 
Association  of  Veterans  of  the  Texas  Revolution  were  present. 

He  spoke  to  them  specially,  and  the  old  men  grew  wild  at  his  magnifi- 
cent tribute  to  them,  as  he  enumerated  the  wonderful  results  they  had 
achieved  in  giving  to  the  country  the  great  State  of  Texas.  A  very 
touching  incident  occurred  while  he  was  in  that  city.  The  survivors 
of  the  Davis  Guard,  a  company  composed  entirely  of  Irishmen,  desired 
to  call  on  him  in  a  body.  He  accorded  them  an  interview.  The  writer 
of  this  with  a  few  other  citizens  were  present.  It  was  a  scene  never  to 
be  forgotten.  He  made  them  a  short  speech,  in  which  he  referred  to 
their  brave  conduct  in  defense  of  their  adopted  State.  That  gallant 
band  of  warm  hearts  and  strong  arms,  each  and  every  one,  shook  the 
hand  of  their  President,  as  they  called  him,  and  not  a  dry  eye  was  there 
among  all  those  sturdy  men  as  they  parted  from  him.  This  company  of 
forty-two  men  is  mentioned  in  "Davis'  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Con- 
federate States,"  volume  1,  pages  236  and  240,  as  having  performed  one 
of  the  greatest  feats  during  the  entire  war,  resulting  in  saving  Texas 
from  invasion  and  probable  devastation.  The  people  appeared  loath  to 
part  with  him,  but  he  had  to  journey  on.  In  passing  through  the  coun- 
try to  Austin,  at  every  town  and  station  the  citizens  assembled  in  great 
numbers,  and  as  he  would  appear  upon  the  platform  of  the  car,  in  re- 
sponse to  their  call,  great  cheering  and  hearty  greeting  came  from  an 
admiring  people.  The  train  was  behind  time  in  reaching  Austin,  the 
capital  of  Texas.  It  was  raining,  but  men,  women,  and  children  stood 
where  they  had  been  for  hours.  They  had  improvised  torchlights  and 
waited  for  the  train,  that  they  might  obtain  a  glimpse  of  their  loved 
chief.  He  was  received  by  the  military,  and  escorted  to  his  quarters, 
where  he  was  met  by  the  Governor  of  the  State  and  others. 

The  next  day  thousands  of  men,  women,  and  children  called  to  shake 
his  hand,  and  tell  him  how  they  honored  nnd  loved  him.  While  at  the 
seat  of  government  he  had  every  attention  that  could  be  shown  him. 
His  reception  at  Austin  will  never  be  forgotten,  even  by  the  little  chil- 
dren that  took  part  in  it. 

The  people  having  heard  of  his  coming,  his  trip  from  Austin  to  Dallas 
was  like  a  triumphal  march.  Never  before  or  since  has  such  an  out- 
pouring of  the  people  been  seen  in  Texas.  Arriving  at  Dallas,  he  was 
received  by  the  military,  the  civic  associations,  and  an  immense  con- 
course of  people,  and  his  stay  while  in  that  city  was  one  continued  ova- 
tion. Men,  women,  and  children  were  never  satisfied  until  they  had 

42 


658  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


an  opportunity  uf  seeing  their  honored  guest,  and  mothers  were  proud 
to  have  him  lay  his  hands  upon  their  children  by  way  of  recognition. 

The  people  from  every  part  of  the  State  were  sending  committees  for 
him  to  visit  their  particular  sections  or  tow  s.  He,  however,  found  it 
necessary,  from  constant  excitement  and  fatigue,  to  leave  for  his  home 
in  Memphis.  On  his  way  thither  at  Marshall,  Texas,  he  was  accorded 
the  same  hearty  welcome  and  complimentary  attentions  that  had  been 
given  him  during  his  entire  journey  through  the  country.  In  fact,  he 
was  entertained  and  honored  throughout  the  State  more  like  a  victorious 
general  passing  through  the  country  on  a  triumphal  march,  after  win- 
ning great  battles,  than  a  disfranchised  citizen,  the  representative  of  a 
lost  cause,  with  no  emoluments  or  gifts  to  bestow,  nothing  being  left 
him  but  his  honor,  his  great  brain,  and  his  true  and  noble  heart  beating 
and  hoping  for  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  his  people. 

After  he  passed  the  borders  of  the  State  he  was  quite  exhausted  from 
his  extended  travel  and  hand-shaking.  This  trip  made  a  lasting  im- 
pression upon  him.  He  loved  to  dwell  on  his  visit  to  the  "Lone  Star 
State,"  and  the  welcome  he  received  while  there.  It  was  the  first  really 
grand  ovation  that  had  been  given  him  after  the  surrender  of  the  armies 
of  the  Confederate  States.  My  heart  beats  proudly  when  I  think  my 
State  should  be  the  first  to  publicly  honor  the  man,  not  for  his  successes 
and  the  honors  he  had  to  bestow,  but  for  the  cause  he  represented  and 
his  own  personal  worth.  Moreover,  during  his  stay  with  us  offers  came 
from  various  localities  tendering  him  a  suitable  and  comfortable  home 
if  he  would  but  consent  to  remain  or  return  to  the  State.  These  offers 
he  politely  declined,  as  he  had  previously  those  of  the  same  character 
from  other  States.  Of  late  years  he  had  many  pressing  invitations  to 
visit  Texas  again.  Circumstances  prevented  his  coming. 

VISIT   OP   TEXANS    TO    MB.    DAVIS. 

I  have  described  his  visit  to  our  home  in  1875.  Now  I  will  tell  you 
about  a  visit  made  by  a  party  of  Texans  to  his  home  in  Mississippi  dur- 
ing the  exposition  at  New  Orleans. 

Having  stated  to  a  friend  or  two  that  I  intended  visiting  Mr.  Davis, 
it  was  mentioned  at  the  hotel  late  in  the  evening,  and  on  the  following 
morning  fifty- five  Texans  were  at  the  train  (a  few  ladies  among  them). 
Governor  Ireland  and  the  present  Governor,  James  S.  Hogg,  were  of  the 
party.  Arriving  at  Beauvoir,  the  home  of  Mr.  Davis,  we  were  received 
by  him  and  his  peerless  wife  with  great  courtesy  and  kindness.  We  were 
welcomed  as  Texans,  the  people  of  that  State  that  had  showered  upon 
him  so  much  honor  and  hospitality,  and  I  venture  to  assert  that  every 
one  of  that  party  loft  delighted  to  have  seen  and  taken  by  the  hand  the 
dignified  master  of  Beauvoir.  He  recalled  that  visit  many  a  time  with 
pleasure,  so  appreciative  was  he  of  the  attention  of  the  company  in 
going  so  far  to  see  him. 


APPENDIX.  659 


Gentlemen  of  the  Senate:  The  donors  of  this  portrait  of  Mr.  Davis 
desire  to  place  it  in  your  chamber  "to  preserve  his  face  to  future  genera- 
tions." These  are  their  words. 

That  is  good,  and  you  must  endeavor  to  plant  the  truth,  the  whole 
truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth  about  him  in  their  memory.  In  order 
to  do  this,  you  must  take  notice,  as  Mr.  Ridpath,  the  historian,  says, 
that  there  are  two  Jefferson  Davises  in  history.  I  quote  a  paragraph 
from  his  pen: 

"Lest  any  foreigner  shall  read  this  article,  let  me  say  for  his  benefit 
that  there  are  two  Jefferson  Davises  in  American  history — one  is  a  con- 
spirator, a  rebel,  a  traitor,  and  the  fiend  of  Andersonville.  He  is  a 
myth  evolved  from  the  hell-smoke  of  cruel  war,  as  purely  imaginary  a 
personage  as  Mephistopheles  or  the  Hebrew  devil.  The  other  is  a 
statesman  with  clean  hands  and  pure  heart,  who  served  his  people  faith- 
fully from  budding  manhood  to  hoary  age,  without  thought  of  self,  with 
unbending  integrity,  and  to  the  best  of  his  great  ability;  he  was  a  man 
of  whom  all  his  countrymen  who  knew  him  personally  without  distinc- 
tion of  creed  political  are  proud,  and  proud  that  he  was  their  country- 
man." 

Now  I  am  willing  to  do  my  share  of  teaching  for  the  benefit  of  future 
generations.  I  speak  from  my  own  knowledge,  and  can  not  permit  the 
present  opportunity  to  pass  without  placing  upon  record  a  positive  de- 
nial of  the  assertion  that  Mr.  Davis  was  cruel  to  Federal  prisoners. 

FEDERAL    PRISONERS. 

No  man  on  earth  more  than  Mr.  Davis  desired  to  see  prisoners  sup- 
plied with  necessaries,  and  to  have  them  exchanged  as  rapidly  as  pos- 
sible. It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  it  was  almost  impossible  at  times 
for  the  Confederate  States  to  feed  their  armies,  and  in  very  many  in- 
stances, from  the  vigorous  blockade  kept  up,  it  became  impossible  to  get 
the  necessary  food  and  medicines  for  the  sick.  The  families  of  the  citi- 
zen soldiery  near  the  battlefield  frequently  suffered  for  the  necessaries 
of  life.  The  Confederate  States  were  in  no  way  responsible  for  the  non- 
exchange  of  prisoners. 

Medicines  were  declared  contraband  of  war.  Such  an  urgent  necessity 
existed  at  one  time  for  medicines  that  the  Confederate  government 
offered  to  make  purchase  of  medicine  from  the  United  States  authorities, 
to  be  used  exclusively  for  the  relief  of  Federal  prisoners.  They  offered 
to  pay  gold,  cotton,  or  tobacco  for  them,  and  even  two  or  three  prices  if 
required. 

At  the  same  time  assurances  were  given  that  the  medicines  would  be 
used  exclusively  in  the  treatment  of  Federal  prisoners,  and  moreover, 
agreed,  if  it  was  insisted  on,  that  such  medicines  might  be  brought  into 
the  Confederate  lines  by  the  United  States  surgeons,  and  dispensed  by 
them.  To  this  offer,  incredible  as  it  may  appear,  no  reply  was  ever  re- 
ceived. On  January  2,  1863,  Mr.  Davis  says  Mr.  Alex.  H.  Stephens, 
Vice-President,  received  full  authority,  and  with  entire  cointelligence 


660  LU BROCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


between  them,  undertook  the  mission  to  Washington  to  insure  the  ob- 
servance of  the  cartel  and  otherwise  promote,  as  far  as  possible,  human- 
ity in  the  existing  war.  He  was  traveling  under  a  flag  of  truce.  He 
stated  in  general  terms  the  object  of  his  mission,  and  asked  permission 
to  proceed  to  Washington.  The  officer  telegraphed  to  his  government  at 
Washington,  and  was  answered,  "The  request  is  inadmissible,"  etc.  A 
single  paragraph  from  the  letter  borne  by  Mr.  Stephens  will  indicate 
the  general  object  of  his  mission: 

"My  whole  purpose  is  to  place  this  war  on  the  footing  of  such  as  are 
waged  by  civilized  people  in  modern  time,  and  to  divest  it  of  the  savage 
•character  which  has  been  imposed  on  it  by  our  enemies  in  spite  of  all 
our  efforts  and  protests.  War  is  full  enough  of  unavoidable  horrors, 
under  all  its  aspects,  to  justify  and  even  demand  of  any  Christian  ruler, 
who  may  be  unhappily  engaged  in  carrying  it  on,  to  seek  to  restrict  its 
^calamities  and  to  divest  it  of  all  unnecessary  severities." 

Colonel  Ould,  in  July,  1863,  wrote  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ludlow, 
United  States  commissioner  of  exchange,  thus: 

"Although  you  have  many  thousands  of  our  soldiers  now  in  confine- 
ment in  your  prisons,  and  especially  in  that  horrible  hold  of  death,  Fort 
Delaware,  you  have  not,  for  several  weeks,  sent  us  any  prisoners.  Dur- 
ing those  weeks  you  have  dispatched  Captain  Mulford  with  the  steamer 
New  York  to  City  Point  three  or  four  times  without  any  provisions.  I 
ask  you  with  no  purpose  of  disrespect,  what  can  you  think  of  this  covert 
attempt  to  secure  the  delivery  of  all  your  prisoners  in  our  hands  without 
the  release  of  those  of  ours  who  are  languishing  in  hopeless  misery  in 
jour  prisons  and  dungeons? 

"ROBERT  OULD 
"Commissioner  of  Exchange." 

Mr.  Davis,  when  writing  to  General  Lee  for  report  as  to  his  failure  to 
get  proper  exchanges,  received  only  for  his  answer  his  frequent  reply : 

"We  have  done  everything  in  our  power  to  mitigate  the  suffering  of 
prisoners,  and  there  is  no  just  cause  of  further  responsibility  on  our 
part." 

Why  pursue  this  subject  further?     Suffice  it  to  say,  that  hundreds 
of  pages  could  be  furnished  showing  that  President  Davis  did  all  that 
man  could  do  toward  caring  properly  for  Federal  prisoners,  and  sought 
in  every  possible  way  to  obtain  prompt  exchanges. 
History   shows   that   the   United   States   prisoners   held   by   the 

Confederate  States  were 270,000 

Confederate  prisoners  held  by  United  States  were 220,000 

United  States  prisoners  died  in  Confederate  hands 22,000 

Confederate  prisoners  died  in  United  States  hands 26,000 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  Confederates,  with  an  excess  of  50,000  pris- 
oners, had  4000  less  deaths. 

Why  should  this  have  been  so — with  all  of  the  advantages  with  the 
United  States  in  having  plenty  and  good  food  and  medical  attentions? 
Where  should  the  censure  rest? 


APPENDIX.  6(51 


CHARGE    OF   TREASON. 

Now,  right  here,  about  that  charge  of  treason,  I  must  say  a  few  words. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Davis'  capture  rumors  of  every  kind  were  rife  in  the 
land.  He  was  to  be  tried  by  a  drum-head  court  martial  at  once  as 
accessory  to  the  murder  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  also  for  high  treason. 
The  charge  as  to  his  connection  in  any  way  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln was  so  revolting  and  absurd  among  those  of  the  North  that  knew 
Mr.  Davis'  character,  that  it  soon  was  hushed  and  given  up.  Then  they 
must  prepare  for  his  speedy  trial  for  treason,  and  he  was  denounced 
over  the  land  as  a  traitor.  His  case  was  immediately  taken  charge  of 
by  Mr.  O'Conor,  of  New  York,  and  other  distinguished  lawyers.  They 
soon  had  his  case  ready  for  trial  under  the  indictment  found.  After 
two  years  of  weary  discomfort  and  incarceration  at  Fortress  Monroe, 
he  was  bailed  and  permitted  to  leave  the  United  States,  and  when  it  was^ 
finally  announced  that  he  would  be  tried  he  appeared  in  court  more  than 
willing  to  answer  to  every  charge,  when  without  much  ceremony  he  was 
discharged,  his  bondsmen  released,  and  he  permitted  to  go  free.  It  is 
well  authenticated  that  Chief  Justice  Chase  declared  that  he  could  not 
be  convicted  of  treason,  and  the  government  of  the  United  States  deter- 
mined wisely  not  to  make  the  issue. 

Thus  should  have  been  put  to  rest  forever  the  charge  of  treason,  and 
the  time  will  come  when  history  will  blot  out  the  epithet  of  traitor  so- 
blatantly  used  by  politicians  and  others  of  the  present  day,  who  have 
never  yet  comprehended  the  situation  at  the  time  of  the  separation  of 
the  States. 

The  time  has  not  yet  come,  however,  for  it  was  only  the  other  day, 
just  the  day  before  you  passed  your  resolutions  in  the  Senate,  I  clipped 
from  the  Houston  Post  of  February  18,  1891,  this  paragraph  copied  by 
it  from  the  Illinois  State  Journal: 

"The  Fort  Worth  Gazette  says  the  first  monument  to  the  honor,  in- 
tegrity, statesmanship,  and  manhood  of  Jefferson  Davis  is  about  to  be 
unveiled  at  Pensacola,  Florida.  The  Gazette  glorifies  the  occasion  to  the 
extent  of  half  a  column.  The  affection  of  the  South  for  the  leader  of 
the  lost  cause  is  possibly  natural,  but  the  erection  of  monuments  to  ex- 
ploit treason  is  a  matter  of  doubtful  propriety." 

Now,  right  here  I  will  give  you  the  words  of  Mr.  Davis: 

"A  traitor  is  one  who  violates  his  allegiance,  and  betrays  his  country." 

"A  rebel  is  one  who  revolts  from  the  country  to  which  he  owes 
allegiance." 

He  held  that  his  allegiance  was  due  to  his  State,  and  was  loyal  to  his- 
State  in  following  her  fortunes  after  she  withdrew  from  the  Union.  "A 
citizen's  allegiance  to  the  Federal  government  comes  only  through  his 
allegiance  to  his  State,  for  the  Federal  government  was  only  the  agent 
of  the  States  which  formed  it,  and  they  never  surrendered  their  sover- 
eignty to  it." 

Mr.  Davis  was  often  charged  with  obstinacy  and  hatred  towards  the- 


662  LUBBOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


government,  because  he  failed  to  petition  for  pardon  and  his  restoration 
to  citizenship.  Those  making  this  charge  failed  to  estimate  the  char- 
acter of  this  model  man.  He  was  conscious  of  having  perpetrated  no 
wrong;  to  ask  pardon  would  imply  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  crimes 
towards  the  government  of  the  United  States,  which  was  sufficient  to 
determine  him  as  to  his  course,  and,  above  all,  he  was  the  representative 
of  millions  of  devoted  men  and  women  who  believed  with  him  that  he 
was  suffering  vicarious  punishment  for  them,  and  his  noble  soul  would 
not  permit  him  to  brand  them  either  as  traitors  or  rebels,  but  to  stand 
firmly  and  dignifiedly  on  the  assertion  that  they  were  a  free  and  sover- 
eign people. 

Yes,  gentlemen  of  the  Legislature,  let  us  understand  this  matter  well 
ourselves,  and  then  hand  down  the  truth  to  our  children  that  a  man 
could  be  charged  with  treason  and  yet  be  "a  statesman  with  clean  hands 
and  pure  heart."  We  all  know  that  eighteen  hundred  years  ago  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  was  brought  before  the  high  priest,  accused  of  blasphemy  by 
the  very  nation  that  possessed  the  greatest  religious  knowledge  of  the 
times,  and  yet  to-day  he  is  the  prophet,  priest,  and  king  of  the  most 
intelligent  nations  of  the  earth.  He  is  our  light  in  religion  and  our  hope 
of  heaven.  And  in  this  generation  Jefferson  Davis  is  charged  with 
treason  by  a  government  whose  people  above  all  are  the  most  enlightened 
in  the  science  of  government,  when  we  all  do  know  how  true  he  was  in 
his  allegiance  to  the  Constitution.  Then  let  us  build  monuments  to  his 
memory  and  hand  down  his  political  teachings  to  our  children,  that  they 
may  understand  how  to  preserve  for  their  own  happiness  and  prosperity 
a  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for  the  people. 

The  citizens  of  Washington  County  are  on  that  line  now,  when  they 
ask  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Senate,  to  place  that  portrait  in  your  cham- 
ber. Though  silent,  it  will  teach  great  political  truths  to  us  and  future 
generations. 

So  many  versions  have  been  given  of  the  capture  of  Jefferson  Davis 
that  at  the  expense  of  fatiguing  you,  my  friends,  I  must  reproduce  here 
a  letter  written  by  me  for  the  Southern  Historical  Papers  on  August  2, 
1877.  It  occurs  to  me  to  do  so  because  I  was  asked  a  few  days  ago  by  a 
gentleman  in  high  position  in  the  State  government  if  President  Davis 
was  captured  in  a  woman's  dress.  As  you  all  know,  I  was  with  him  on 
that  occasion,  and  I  have  in  my  memory  that  exciting  and  sorrowful 
journey  from  Richmond;  but  I  only  wish  to  set  at  rest  once  again  this 
idle  tale,  that  even  some  of  our  own  people  may  believe.  Here  is  the 
letter: 

"GALVESTON,  August  2,   1877. 

"Maj.  W.  T.  Walthall:  Dear  Sir— Yours  of  the  28th  came  to  hand  a 
day  or  two  since,  finding  me  very  busy.  At  the  earliest  moment  I 
perused  the  article  you  alluded  to  in  your  letter,  which  appeared  in  the 
Weekly  Times  of  Philadelphia  of  July  7th. 

"It  does  really  appear  that  certain  parties  with  a  view  of  keeping 
themselves  before  the  public  will  continue  to  write  the  most  base, 


APPENDIX.  663 


calumnious,  and  slanderous  articles,  calculated  to  keep  the  wounds  of 
the  past  open  and  sore.  Such  a  writer  now  appears  in  Gen.  James  H. 
Wilson,  whose  sole  aim  seems  to  be  that  of  traducing  and  misrepresent- 
ing the  circumstances  of  the  capture  of  President  Davis  and  his  small 
party,  who,  as  it  appears,  were  pursued  by  some  15,000  gallant  soldiers 
commanded  by  this  distinguished  general  (Wilson).  I  shall  leave  it  to 
you  and  others  better  qualified  than  myself  to  reply  to  this  chapter  of 
the  'unwritten  history  of  the  war.' 

"I  have  this,  however,  to  say:  I  left  Richmond  with  President  Davis 
in  the  same  car,  and  from  that  day  to  the  time  of  our  separation,  he 
being  detained  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  I  sent  to  Fort  Delaware,  he  was 
seldom  out  of  my  sight  day  or  night.  The  night  before  the  morning  of 
our  capture  Col.  William  Preston  Johnston  slept  very  near  the  tent  of 
Mrs.  Davis,  with  whose  party  (Mrs.  Davis')  we  had  accidentally  fallen 
in.  Mr.  Davis  and  his  party  had  no  tents.  But  Mr.  Davis  was  in  Mrs. 
Davis'  tent  that  night.  Col.  John  Taylor  Wood  and  myself  were  under 
a  pine  tree  some  fifty  or  one  hundred  feet  off.  Just  before  day,  a  light 
rain  falling,  and  very  cold,  I  was  aroused  by  sharp  firing.  I  imme- 
diately prepared  for  an  emergency,  and  was  ready  in  a  few  moments 
with  my  horse  saddled  for  a  move.  Very  soon  our  camp  was  surrounded 
by  mounted  men.  I  was  commanded  to  surrender,  and  an  attempt  was 
made  to  rob  me.  I  refused  to  give  up  my  things,  such  as  saddle  bags, 
Mexican  blanket,  etc.  The  firing  continued.  I  abused  the  Federal  sol- 
diers around  me,  and  told  them  they  had  better  repair  to  the  firing  and 
stop  it,  as  they  were  slaughtering  their  own  men.  As  soon  as  there  was 
sufficient  light  they  discovered  that  they  had  been  fighting  with  their 
own  soldiers  and  had  killed  and  wounded  quite  a  number.  In  a  few 
moments  I  joined  Mr.  Davis  and  his  family.  I  saw  nothing  of  any  at- 
tempted disguise,  neither  did  I  hear  anything  of  it  until  some  time  after 
I  had  been  in  Fort  Delaware.  I  then  pronounced  it  a  base  falsehood. 
We  were  guarded  by  the  Fourth  Michigan  cavalry,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Pritchard,  until  we  reached  Fortress  Monroe.  I  talked  freely 
with  officers  and  men,  and  on  no  occasion  did  I  hear  anything  of  the 
kind  mentioned.  Judge  Reagan  and  myself  had  made  a  compact  that 
we  would  never  desert  or  leave  Mr.  Davis,  remaining  to  contribute  if 
possible  to  his  comfort  and  well  being  and  to  share  his  fortunes  what- 
ever might  befall.  My  bed  mate,  Col.  J.  T.  Wood,  one  of  the  bravest 
and  purest  of  men,  having  been  a  naval  officer  of  the  United  States,  and 
having  been  charged  with  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  nations  in  certain 
captures  he  had  made,  deemed  it  prudent  to  make  his  escape.  He  in- 
formed me  of  his  intentions  and  invited  me  to  accompany  him.  I  de- 
clined to  avail  myself  of  the  favorable  opportunity  presented,  telling  him 
of  my  compact  with  Judge  Reagan.  He  did  make  good  his  escape,  land- 
ing in  Cuba  with  General  Breckenridge  and  Mr.  Benjamin,  members  of 
the  Davis  cabinet.  The  conduct  of  the  captors  on  that  occasion  (the 
capture)  was  marked  by  anything  but  decency  and  soldierly  bearing. 
They  found  no  preparation  for  defense  and  encountered  no  resistance 
whatever.  Mr.  Davis,  Judge  Reagan,  Col.  William  Preston  Johnston, 


664  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Col.  John  Taylor  Wood,  a  young  soldier,  Barnwell,  of  South  Carolina, 
who  also  escaped,  and  myself,  constituted  the  President's  party.  Col. 
Burton  N.  Harrison,  the  private  secretary  of  the  President,  and  a  few 
paroled  soldiers,  were  with  Mrs.  Davis  and  her  family,  protecting  them 
with  their  baggage,  etc.  Upon  taking  the  camp  they  plundered  and 
robbed  every  one  of  all  and  every  article  they  could  get  hold  of.  They 
stole  the  watches,  jewelry,  money,  clothing,  etc.  I  was  the  only  one  of 
the  party  not  robbed.  The  man  and  patriot  who  but  a  few  days  before 
was  at  the  head  of  a  government  was  treated  by  his  captors  with  un- 
called for  indignity,  so  much  so  that  I  became  completely  exasperated 
and  unhinged,  and  demanded  of  the  officers  to  protect  him  from  insult, 
threatening  to  kill  the  parties  engaged  in  such  conduct.  Mrs.  Davis  was 
robbed  of  her  horses,  her  own  personal  property  presented  to  her  by  the 
people  of  Richmond.  The  money,  for  which  she  sold  valuables,  jewelry, 
silverware,  etc.,  was  stolen,  and  no  effort  was  made  to  have  it  returned 
to  her.  Time  and  time  again  it  was  promised  that  the  watches,  money, 
etc.,  stolen  should  be  returned,  that  the  command  would  be  paraded  and 
the  stolen  property  returned  to  the  owners.  But  it  was  never  done,  nor 
any  attempt  made  to  do  so.  A  Captain  Douglas  stole  Judge  Reagan's 
saddle  and  used  it  from  the  day  we  were  captured.  They  appropriated 
our  horses  and  other  property. 

"But  why  dwell  upon  this  wretchedly  disagreeable  subject?  I  hope 
and  pray  that  the  whole  truth  will  some  day  be  written,  and  I  feel 
assured  when  it  is  done  we  of  the  South  will  stand  to  all  time  a  vin- 
dicated people.  As  for  him  who  is  the  target  for  all  of  these  miserable 
scribblers  and  those  unscrupulous  and  corrupt  men  living  on  the  abuse 
heaped  on  the  Southern  people,  fanning  the  embers  of  the  late  war, 
when  he  is  gone  hence  history  will  write  him  as  one  of  the  truest  and 
purest  of  men,  a  dignified  and  bold  soldier,  an  intelligent  statesman,  a 
man  whose  whole  aim  in  life  was  to  benefit  his  people  and  his  country. 
I  knew  him  well.  I  have  been  with  him  in  prosperity  and  adversity, 
and  have  ever  found  him  good  and  true.  How  wretched  the  spirit  that 
will  continue  to  traduce  such  a  man.  How  miserable  and  contemptible 
the  party  that  will  refuse  to  recognize  such  a  man  as  a  citizen  of  the 
country,  in  whose  defense  his  best  days  were  spent  and  his  blood  freely 
shed.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  yours  respectfully, 

"F.  R.  LUBBOCK." 

The  above  letter  was  sustained  by  papers  from  Colonels  Johnston, 
Wood,  and  Harrison  of  the  President's  staff,  and  the  Hon.  John  H. 
Reagan,  Postmaster-General  of  the  Confederate  States.  I  will  add  a 
few  words  from  parties  in  the  Federal  army. 

James  II.  Parker,  of  Ebernsville,  Pa.,  in  writing  to  the  Argus,  of 
Portland,  Me.,  in  speaking  of  Mr.  Davis,  says: 

"When  it  was  known  that  he  was  certainly  taken,  some  newspaper 
correspondent  (I  knew  his  name  at  the  time)  fabricated  the  story  about 
his  disguise  in  an  old  woman's  dress.  I  heard  the  whole  matter  talked 
over  as  a  good  joke,  and  the  officers  who  knew  better  never  took  the 


APPENDIX.  665. 


trouble  to  deny  it.  Perhaps  they  thought  the  Confederate  President 
deserved  all  the  contempt  that  could  be  put  upon  him.  I  thought  so, 
too,  only  I  never  would  perpetrate  a  falsehood  that  by  any  meana 
would  become  history.  And  further,  I  never  would  slander  a  woman 
who  has  shown  so  much  devotion  as  Mrs.  Davis  has  to  her  husband.  No- 
matter  how  wicked  he  is  or  may  have  been,  I  defy  any  person  to  find 
a  single  officer  or  soldier  who  was  present  at  the  capture  of  Jefferson 
Davis  who  will  say  upon  honor  that  he  was  disguised  in  women's  clothes, 
or  that  his  wife  acted  in  any  way  unladylike  or  undignified  on  that 
occasion.  I  go  for  trying  him  for  his  crimes,  and  if  he  is  found  guilty 
punishing  him.  But  I  would  not  lie  about  him  when  the  truth  will 
make  it  bad  enough." 

T.  H.  Peabody,  a  lawyer  of  St.  Louis,  one  of  the  captors  of  Mr.  Davis, 
in  a  speech  before  Ransom  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  a  few  days  after  the  death  of 
Mr.  Davis  said: 

"Jefferson  Davis  was  captured  by  the  Fourth  Michigan  cavalry  on 
the  early  morning  of  May  10,  1865,  at  Irwinton,  in  southern  Georgia. 
With  him  were  Mr.  Reagan  of  Texas,  his  Postmaster-General,  Captain 
Moody  of  Mississippi,  an  old  neighbor  of  the  Davis  family,  Governor 
Lubbock  of  Texas,  Colonels  Harrison  and  Johnston  of  his  staff,  Mrs. 
Davis  and  her  four  children — Maggie  aged  10,  Jeff  8,  Willie  5,  and  a 
girl  baby  (Winnie),  a  brother  and  sister  of  Mrs.  Davis,  a  white  and  one 
colored  servant  woman,  a  small  force  of  cavalry,  a  few  others,  a  small 
train  of  horses,  mules,  wagons,  and  an  ambulance.  Among  the  horses 
was  a  span  of  carriage  horses  presented  to  Mrs.  Davis  by  citizens  of 
Richmond  during  the  heyday  of  the  Confederacy,  also  a  splendid  saddle 
horse,  the  pride  of  the  ex-President  himself.  On  the  eleventh  day  of 
May,  the  next  day  after  the  capture,  and  while  on  our  way  back  to 
Macon,  as  officer  of  the  guard  over  the  distinguished  prisoner,  I  rode 
by  the  side  of  Mr.  Reagan,  now  senator  from  Texas.  I  found  him  a 
very  fine  gentleman.  During  that  day's  march  a  courier  from  Macon 
notified  us  in  printed  slips  of  the  $100,000  reward  offered  for  Mr.  Davis' 
capture,  which  notice  connected  Mr.  Davis  with  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln.  When  Mr.  Reagan  read  the  notice  he  earnestly  pro- 
tested that  Mr.  Davis  had  no  connection  whatever  with  the  sorrowful 
affair.  History  has  shown  he  had  none.  Besides  the  suit  of  men's 
clothes  worn  by  Mr.  Davis,  he  had  on  when  captured  Mrs.  Davis'  large 
water-proof  cloak  or  robe,  thrown  on  over  his  fine  gray  suit,  and  a 
blanket  shawl  thrown  over  his  head  and  shoulders.  This  shawl  and 
robe  were  finally  deposited  in  the  archives  of  the  War  Department  at 
Washington  by  order  of  Secretary  Stanton." 

The  story  of  the  hoopskirt,  sunbonnet  and  calico  wrapper  has  no 
real  existence,  and  was  started  in  the  fertile  brain  of  the  reporters  and 
in  the  illustrated  papers  of  the  day. 

Members  of  the  Legislature  and  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  fear  that  I 
have  already  detained  you  too  long,  i  feel,  however,  that  I  could  not 
say  less.  I  have  endeavored  to  give  you  something  of  the  character, 
ability,  and  usefulness  of  the  great  man  whose  portrait  is  presented 


COG  LUB 'BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


to  you  this  day.  I  have  done  so  in  my  plain,  unvarnished  manner. 
Would  that  I  could  have  done  so  in  beautiful  and  elegant  language  and 
grand  oratory. 

I  would  say  only  a  few  words  about  his  departure  from  us.  I  had 
prayed  Providence  in  His  kindness  that  should  I  survive  my  grand  old 
chief  so  dearly  loved  that  I  might  have  health  and  strength  to  pay  the 
last  sad  duty  of  respect  and  love  to  him.  This  was  granted  to  me.  I 
was  a  chosen  pall-bearer,  and  followed  him  to  his  last  resting  place. 
I  had  been  with  him  on  many  a  journey  at  home  and  abroad,  in  peace 
and  in  war,  in  victory  and  defeat,  while  in  high  positions  of  State  and 
as  disfranchised  citizens,  and  the  estimate  that  I  placed  upon  the  man 
was  in  keeping  with  the  princely  obsequies  made  for  him  by  the  people 
of  the  South.  It  was  a  grand  sight  to  behold — the  vast  throngs  that 
had  gathered  from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  view  the  remains  of  the 
distinguished  dead.  It  seemed  as  though  Providence  had  brought  him 
to  die  in  the  great  city  of  the  South,  so  approachable  from  every  por- 
tion of  the  Union,  and  gave  the  most  lovely  day  for  the  ceremonies. 
Never  has  there  been  gathered  so  many  thousands  of  mourners  at  the 
burial  of  a  mortal  man. 

I  do  not  know  how  better  I  can  conclude  my  remarks  than  to  repeat 
what  I  said  at  the  mass  meeting  of  the  Confederate  Veterans  on  the 
day  of  the  burial.  General  Gordon  was  in  the  chair : 

"Honorable  Commander:  What  can  I  add  to  the  beautiful  and 
patriotic  speeches  that  have  been  made  to-night  by  the  distinguished 
veterans  assembled  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  our  illustrious  chief- 
tain. I  must  venture,  however,  to  utter  a  few  words  to  give  relief  to  my 
aching  heart.  Standing  in  the  grand  rotunda  of  the  capitol  at  Austin, 
Texas,  when  the  news  was  announced  that  Jefferson  Davis  had  passed 
over  the  river,  from  the  fulness  of  my  heart  I  said:  'Jefferson  Davis 
dead!  Then  the  light  of  the  greatest  and  and  best  man  of  the  century 
has  been  extinguished.  Jefferson  Davis!  the  embodiment  of  patriotism, 
the  true  soldier,  the  intelligent  statesman,  the  ripe  scholar,  the  refined 
gentleman,  and  above  all,  the  earnest  follower  of  Christ.'  Sir,  it  was 
my  good  fortune  to  be  most  intimately  connected  with  this  great  and 
noble  man.  From  this  association  I  soon  learned  to  love  him  for  his 
noble  manhood,  his  devotion  to  his  country,  in  his  earnestness  in  the 
discharge  of  the  great  trusts  committed  to  his  hands  by  a  devoted  and 
admiring,  people,  and  for  his  tender  care  of  those  connected  with  him, 
his  suavity  to  his  inferiors  in  rank,  his  fair  dealing  in  all  things  with 
all  men.  I  loved  him  for  his  grand  heart.  I  took  pleasure  in  being 
near  him  and  listening  to  his  conversation  so  full  of  intelligence,  so 
chaste,  so  elegant,  and  there  was  soul  in  it  all.  My  comrades,  he  was 
a  grand  man, — the  greatest,  all  in  all,  his  country  has  produced.  They 
say  he  is  dead,  comrades.  He  is  beyond  our  sight,  but  he  is  not  dead. 
He  lives  with  Lee,  Stonewall  Jackson,  and  Albert  Sydney  Johnston  and 
others  of  our  great  and  pure  men.  As  the  distinguished  bishop  said  to- 
day, when  on  tho  December  midnight  the  worn  warrior  joined  the  ranks 
of  the  patient  and  prevailing  ones,  who  loved  their  land  with  love  far 


APPENDIX.  667 


brought,  if  one  of  the  nifghty  dead  gave  the  challenge,  'Art  thou  of  us?' 
he  answered:  'I  am  here.'  Yes,  we  all  know  such  as  he  make  up  the 
kingdom  of  heaven.  He  is  not  dead.  He  lives  a  higher  life  above.  He 
is  not  dead,  though  we  have  laid  him  in  the  tomb.  For  he  lives  in  our 
hearts,  and  he  will  ever  live  in  the  hearts  of  our  children." 

At  the  moment  of  presentation,  the  portrait  was  unveiled  by  Miss 
Ima  Hogg. 

Hon.  George  C.  Pendleton,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and  ex  officio  presi- 
dent of  the  Senate,  received  the  portrait  on  behalf  of  the  Senate,  in 
an  eloquent  address.  The  hall  was  filled  to  its  full  seating  capacity, 
many  ladies  being  present,  and  the  program  carried  out  was  interesting 
and  instructive. 

Hon.  R.  T.  Milner,  speaker  of  the  House,  occupied  a  seat  on  the 
right  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Pendleton,  and  members  of  the  House 
seats  that  had  been  prepared  for  them. 


MILITAEY  BOARD. 

Efforts  to  negotiate  the  United  States  Texas  indemnity  bonds  by 
Geo.  H.  Giddings  and  Maj.  Pryor  Lea  failing,  the  board  issued  a  circu- 
lar address  to  the  people  proposing  to  buy  cotton  from  them,  pay  for 
same  in  8  per  cent  State  bonds,  have  the  cotton  hauled  to  Mexico,  sell 
it  there,  and  with  the  proceeds  purchase  machinery,  arms,  munitions 
of  war,  and  other  needed  supplies.  The  circular  met  with  a  prompt 
response.  Competent  agents  ( W.  R.  Thomas,  I.  H.  Thomason,  J.  L.  Gay, 
J.  F.  Roberts,  W.  B.  P.  Gaines,  M.  K.  Ryan,  A.  S.  Drennan,  John  P. 
Key,  C.  L.  Cleveland,  and  John  M.  Dancy)  were  employed,  who,  accord- 
ing to  a  report  made  by  the  board  to  the  Ninth  Legislature,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1863,  had  purchased  to  that  date  3659  bales  of  cotton,  which  had 
been  hauled  to  points  on  the  lower  Rio  Grande  and  sold  to  good  ad- 
vantage, enabling  the  board  to  successfully  inaugurate  plans  it  had  de- 
cided upon  for  the  comfort  and  protection  of  the  people  of  Texas. 

"On  the  31st  of  March  last,"  says  the  report,  "the  board  appointed 
James  T.  D.  Wilson  (of  Houston)  as  agent,  with  directions  to  proceed 
to  Mexico  and  purchase  arms,  munitions  of  war,  clothing,  and  shoes.  A 
portion  of  the  business  entrusted  to  Mr.  Wilson  it  is  not  deemed  com- 
patible with  the  public  interest  to  make  public,  but  will  be  fully  ex- 
plained by  the  board  to  the  honorable  committee.  The  board  furnished 
Mr.  Wilson  with  some  means,  and  issued  ample  instructions  to  guide 
him  in  his  mission.  Mr.  Wilson  could  not  make  use  of  a  portion  of  the 
valuables  entrusted  to  him,  but  succeeded  in  purchasing  an  invoice  of 
powder,  caps,  and  lead,  and  a  small  lot  of  bagging  and  rope.  .  .  . 
He  executed  his  agency  with  promptness  and  efficiency  and  would  ac- 
cept no  compensation  for  his  services,,  except  the  actual  outlay  for 
traveling  expenses.  .  .  .  On  the  29th  of  April,  1862,  the  board  ex- 
tended the  appointment  of  agent  to  Mr.  John  M.  Moore,  of  Corpus 


668  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Christi,  a  gentleman  well  acquainted  with  the  Mexican  market,  with 
instructions  to  visit  Mexico  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  arms,  muni- 
tions of  war,  and  other  articles  of  necessity.  The  board  agreed  to  place 
at  the  disposal  of  Mr.  Moore  from  2000  to  4000  bales  of  cotton.  Under 
this  agreement  he  has  furnished  goods  to  the  amount  of  $106,154.67." 

Up  to  December  25th,  the  date  of  his  report,  1133  bales  of  cotton 
were  delivered  to  him,  153  bales  were  at  the  depot  at  San  Antonio  await- 
ing transportation.  December  31st  the  board  had  outstanding  contracts 
for  the  delivery  of  cotton  to  it  valued  at  $60,000.  At  that  time  $150,- 
000  or  $200,000  worth  of  goods  were  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande 
awaiting  facilities  to  land,  and  other  large  consignments  were  on  the 
way.  The  amount  expended  for  cotton  [covering  a  limited  period. — ED.] 
to  December  31st  is  stated  at  $143,274.96,  and  for  ordnance  and  other 
military  stores,  machinery  and  other  articles  of  prime  necessity  $64,- 
015.09. 

Among  the  agents  who  rendered  especial  service  to  the  State  by  their 
intelligence,  business  ability,  and  zeal  may  be  mentioned  R.  &  D.  G. 
Mills  and  Ball,  Hutchings  &  Co.'*  of  Galveston;  John  M.  Swisher  &  Co. 
(Swisher  was  a  San  Jacinto  veteran)  and  Lavenburg  &  Bro.,  of  Aus- 
tin; M.  N.  Rogers,  of  Georgetown,  and  Droege,  Oetling  &  Co.,  of  Mata- 
moros.  Through  Ball,  Hutchings  &  Co.  50,000  wool  and  cotton  cards 
were  imported  by  way  of  Brownsville  and  distributed  to  the  people  of 
Texas  at  $5  to  $10  per  pair.  The  price  charged  in  the  open  market  at 
that  time  was  from  $25  to  $40  per  pair.  Consequently  from  $1,250,000 
to  $2.000,000  were  saved  to  our  people  on  this  transaction.  The  suc- 
cess attending  this  single  effort  and  the  good  results  flowing  from  it 
were  sufficient,  if  nothing  more  had  been  accomplished,  to  sustain  the 
wisdom  of  the  Legislature  in  creating  the  board. 

In  order  to  clothe  the  soldiers  and  help  soldiers'  wives  and  widows, 
we  employed  the  latter  to  make  clothing  for  the  army,  and  the  base- 
ment of  the  capitol  was  turned  into  a  sewing  room;  sometimes  as 
many  as  100  would  be  at  work. 

Later  we  imported  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  cards.  There- 
upon Eubanks  &  Co.  established  a  card  factory  in  Williamson  County, 
some  other  private  individuals  embarked  in  the  business,  and  we  made 
some  at  the  penitentiary.  With  additional  importations  that  we  suc- 
ceeded in  making,  the  public  need  in  this  direction  was  soon  amply  sup- 
plied. 

To  December  31st  the  board  had  entered  into  contracts  with  Tucker, 
Sherrod  &  Co.,  of  Lancaster,  Dallas  County;  Whitecarvor,  Campbell  & 
Co.,  of  Rusk,  Cherokee  County;  Billups  &  Hassel,  of  Plenitude,  Andterson 
County;  Short,  Biscoe  &  Co.,  of  Tyler,  Smith  County,  and  N.  B.  Tanner, 
of  Bastrop,  for  the  manufacture  of  arms,  aggregating  6000  rifles  (part  of 
the  Mississippi  and  part  of  the  Enfield  type,  and  about  one-half  with  bay- 

•Ball  Hatchings  &  Co.  engaged  actively  and  extensively  in  shipping  cotton  into 
Mexico,  and  became  successsul  blockade  runners  employing  in  the  latter  service 
foreign  vessels  that  before  the  close  of  the  war  arrived  at  and  departed  from  Galves- 
ton on  every  change  or  dark  of  the  moon  with  almost  the  regularity  of  mail  steamers. 


APPENDIX.  669 


onet  attachment ) ,  and  3000  sixshooters, — the  latter  to  be  made  by 
Tucker,  Sherrod  &  Co.  The  board  made  liberal  advances  to  the  parties 
( secured  by  good  bonds )  to  enable  them  to  establish  the  necessary  plants 
and  carry  out  their  contracts.  This  they  had  some  difficulty  in  doing 
owing  to  scarcity  of  material  and  labor.  The  mechanics,  like  all  other 
classes,  had  volunteered  to  fight  the  battles  of  the  country,  and  it  proved 
impossible  to  get  a  sufficient  number  of  competent  men  detailed  from 
the  army,  insurmountable  as  these  obstacles  would  appear,  they  were 
in  a  measure  overcome  and  large  quantities  of  arms  of  good  quality 
were  manufactured,  delivered  to  the  board  and  supplied  to  our  soldiers. 

Aided  by  the  board,  William  Rowan  had  established  a  powder  mill  at 
Waxahachie,  George  Pfeiffer  one  at  Corpus  Christi,  Constantine  Foster 
one  in  Burnet  County,  and  W.  H.  D.  Carrington  and  associates  one  in 
Travis  County.  Later  other  mills  were  established  at  various  points  in 
the  State  where  needed.  The  report  says  that  the  cannon  foundry  had 
been  put  in  successful  operation  by  the  "able  superintendent"  selected 
by  the  board  (Wm.  McCarton),  and  that  the  sum  of  $33,523.11  had  been 
expended  for  the  necessary  buildings,  furnace,  steam  engine,  tools,  lum- 
ber for  gun-ca"rriages,  and  labor,  and  that  the  percussion  cap  factory 
was  running  full  time  and  turning  out  large  quantities  of  caps  of  su- 
perior quality. 

We  made  in  the  State  all  the  goods,  arms,  and  munitions  we  could, 
and  used  every  means  in  our  power  to  induce  citizens  to  embark  in 
manufacturing  in  all  practicable  lines, — that,  too,  I  am  gratified  to 
say,  with  success. 

John  F.  Torrey,  a  man  of  great  energy  and  sterling  honesty,  estab- 
lished a  flour  mill  and  woolen  mill  at  New  Braunfels  before  the  war, — 
one  of  the  earliest  pioneer  manufacturing  enterprises  in  Texas.  Aided 
by  the  board,  he  greatly  enlarged  the  plant,  and  together  with  the 
Runges,  of  Galveston  (citizens  equally  loyal  to  the  South),  established 
an  additional  cotton  and  woolen  mill  in  1863,  and  turned  out  from  his 
establishments  large  quantities  of  excellent  flour,  good  cloth,  and  very 
superior  blankets.  I  knew  Torrey  intimately.  He  was  a  Texas  veteran 
and  a  true  patriot. 

Other  men  of  pluck  and  enterprise,  similarly  encouraged,  established 
factories  in  various  parts  of  the  State,  realized  good  profits  on  capital 
invested,  and  contributed  largely  toward  preventing  our  people  from 
absolutely  suffering  for  the  necessaries  of  life  during  the  war.  Salt  is 
an  article  of  prime  necessity,  the  absence  of  which  can  be  supplied  by 
no  substitute.  A  lump  of  it  on  the  gold  coast  of  Africa  has  been 
known  to  bring  treble  its  weight  in  the  precious  metal.  Fortunately  we 
had  an  inexhaustible  supply  within  our  borders, — at  the  salt  lakes  near 
El  Paso, — where  the  only  labor  required  was  to  shovel  it  into  carts;  at 
Grand  Saline,  in  Van  Zandt  County,  an  extensive  prairie,  where  it  was 
procured  by  digging  shallow  wells  and  evaporating  the  water;  and  the 
salines  in  the  vicinty  of  Double  Mountain,  in  Wise  County.  One  of  our 
first  moves  was  to  take  the  necessary  steps  for  the  utilization  of  these 


670  LUB 'BOCK'S   MEMOIRS. 


valuable  deposits,  and  in  a  short  time  we  could  have  supplied  the  entire 
Trans-Mississippi  Department  had  there  been  transportation  facilities. 

The  board  particularly  felicitated  itself  upon  its  connection  with  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  the  Bayou  City,  and  the  part  that  vessel  took  in  the 
battle  of  Galveston,  saying  in  that  connection  in  the  report  to  the  Legis- 
lature heretofore  referred  to:  "At  the  first  establishment  of  the  block- 
ade of  Texas  by  the  Federal  government  the  frigate  Santee  was  the 
vessel  employed.  Being  a  sail  vessel  and  of  large  size,  the  blockade 
might  have  been  easily  raised  had  she  not  succeeded  in  procuring  sev- 
eral small  vessels  as  tenders.  It  was  believed,  by  parties  esteemed 
competent  to  judge,  that  if  the  steamer  Bayou  City  was  properly  fitted 
up  she  would  be  able  to  cope  with  the  tenders  of  the  Santee  and  thus 
render  the  blockade  ineffectual,  as  she  could  destroy  the  small  vessels 
and  probably  sink  the  Santee.  The  board  selected  Capt.  Henry  S. 
Lubbock,  an  experienced  steamboatman  and  engineer,  to  superintend 
the  necessary  alterations  required.  About  the  time  of  her  completion 
the  Santee  disappeared  and  was  replaced  by  several  small  light-draught 
steamers  with  powerful  armaments.  The  principal  objects  for  which 
the  board  purchased  and  altered  the  steamer  being  defeated  by  the  in- 
crease and  alteration  of  the  blockading  force,  and  the  board,  believing 
that  the  boat  could  be  made  very  effective  in  the  hands  of  the  Con- 
federate government  as  a  guard-boat,  offered  her  to  the  general  com- 
manding, who  made  the  purchase.  The  part  allotted  to  the  Bayou 
City  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Galveston  on  the  1st  of  January  last 
will  become  part  of  the  written  history  of  the  war,  and  the  board  may  be 
allowed  to  congratulate  themselves  on  the  services  she  rendered.  The 
amount  outstanding  on  the  books  of  the  board  to  the  debit  of  the 
Bayou  City,  which  includes  all  charges,  is  $44,773.24.  The  board  hold 
a  certified  account  against  the  Confederate  States  for  $50,000,  the 
amount  of  her  appraised  value,  which  we  hope  will  be  liquidated  in 
the  course  of  a  few  weeks." 

P.  DeCordova,  still  a  prominent  citizen  of  Austin,  was  our  secretary, 
and  performed  his  duties  faithfully  and  efficiently  at  all  times.  We 
were  so  impressed  with  his  accuracy,  energy,  and  business  capacity  that, 
when  the  Legislature  appointed  a  different  board  at  the  expiration  of 
my  gubernatorial  term,  we  recommended  him  to  be  chosen  one  of  its 
members,  and  he  was  so  chosen,  and  thereafter  rendered  good  service  to 
Texas  and  the  Confederacy. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  it  devolved  on  me  as  chairman,  and  on  C.  R. 
Johns  and  C.  H.  Randolph  as  my  associates,  to  perform  the  herculean 
task  of  putting  Texas  (at  the  beginning  of  the  struggle  totally  unpre- 
pared) in  condition  for  defense,  and  of  immediately  concentrating  and 
developing  her  resources  to  an  extent  that  would  render  her  people  self- 
sustaining,  and  that,  despite  every  obstacle,  we  succeeded,  it  is  but  just 
to  say  that  the  board  deserved  the  encomiums  that  were  bestowed  upon  it 
by  an  appreciative  people,  who  on  every  and  all  occasions  showed  them- 
selves ready  to  bestow  the  meed  of  praise  upon  those  who  labored  hon- 
estly, intelligently,  and  effectively  in  their  interest. 


APPENDIX.  671 


MANUFACTURE  OF  GOODS  AT  THE  STATE  PENITEN- 
TIARY IN  1861-2-3. 

When  1  entered  upon  my  executive  duties  I  found  Thomas  Caruthers, 
the  very  efficient  appointee  of  Governor  Houston,  superintendent  and  M. 
C.  Rodgers  financial  agent  of  the  penitentiary.  Rodgers  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  Governor  Houston  to  succeed  General  Besser,  who  had  served 
a  very  long  time  and  with  great  ability.  Houston,  it  seems,  listened 
patiently  to  the  representations  of  a  strong  delegation  from  Walker  and 
other  counties  who  urged  him  to  retain  Besser,  inquired  frequently  if 
he  had  made  a  good  record,  and  at  last  brought  the  interview  to  a  close 
by  saying  to  the  committee:  "Gentlemen,  General  Besser  will  be  par- 
doned out  in  the  morning."  And  so  he  was,  and  Rodgers  appointed. 

I  promptly  pardoned  out  Rodgers  and  reinstated  Besser,  who  was 
much  the  more  competent  man.  Governor  Houston  himself  frankly  ad- 
mitted to  me  that  he  had  made  a  mistake  when  he  removed  such  an 
efficient  man,  "though  he  had  been  there  long  enough." 

The  truth  is,  frequent  elections  but  no  change  of  executive  officers 
without  cause  is  the  best  policy  for  those  citizens  who  desire  not  offices, 
but  good  government. 

Caruthers  I  retained,  believing  him  to  be  the  right  man  for  the  place, 
a  belief  that  was  abundantly  justified  by  results. 

Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  superintendent  and  my  advice  the 
Military  Board  procured  from  Europe  some  much  needed  machinery, 
which  was  supplemented  by  that  our  home  artisans  were  able  to  manu- 
facture; and  several  important  industries  were  put  in  successful  opera- 
tion at  the  penitentiary.  Among  other  articles,  good  cotton  sacking, 
good  strong  sheeting,  first-class  woolen  goods,  shoes,  and  wool  hats  were 
turned  out  in  sufficient  quantities  to  meet  in  large  measure  the  pressing 
needs  of  the  people  and  Texas  soldiers  in  the  field. 

The  penitentiary  management  was  instructed  to  first  supply  goods 
to  the  county  courts  for  distribution  among  the  families  of  soldiers 
unable  to  make  purchases,  the  courts  to  pay  actual  cost  price  for  same, 
then  to  sell  a  limited  amount  to  other  citizens,  and  to  dispose  of  the 
remainder  to  the  Confederate  government.  Under  this  system  the  insti- 
tution was  made  self-sustaining  and  so  continued  until  the  end  of  my 
administration.  In  a  message  to  the  Tenth  Legislature  I  said:  "The 
financial  condition  of  the  penitentiary,  as  exhibited  in  the  biennial  re- 
port of  the  agent,  is  most  satisfactory.  .  .  .  That  report  discloses 
the  following: 

"Cotton  goods  manufactured  from  December  1,  1861,  to  August  31, 
1863,  including  24,702.2  yards  from  late  agent,  2,337,660.2  yards; 
woolens,  including  1,841.3  yards  from  late  agent,  293,298.1  yards.  The 
total  amount  of  sales  in  the  same  period  was  2,308,716.3  yards  cottons, 
and  287,214.1  yards  woolens,  leaving  a  balance  unsold  of  28,962  yards 
cottons,  and  6,789 . 1  yards  woolens.  Of  these  sales  the  army  received 


4572  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


1,276,920.3  cottons  and  257,751.3  yards  woolens,  making  largely  over 
one-half  the  cottons  and  all  the  woolens,  less  33,704.3  yards.  The  lunatic 
asylum  received  2253  yards  cottons  and  C02  yards  woolens.  The  bal- 
ance, 1,029,543  yards  cottons  and  28,850.2  yards  woolens  were  absorbed 
by  the  penitentiary  factory,  clothing  of  convicts  and  employes,  general 
supplies  for  the  institution,  and  families  of  soldiers  and  citizens.  The 
gross  earnings  for  the  same  period  have  been  $1,174,439.07.  The  amount 
^expended  has  been  $468,653.40.  Special  deposit  with  State  Treasurer, 
$653,000;  cash  balance  on  hand  September  1,  1863,  $52,785.67.  On  the 
15th  of  October,  1863,  there  was  deposited  with  the  State  Treasurer 
the  further  sum  of  $147,000,  making  the  whole  sum  paid  into  the 
treasury,  $800,000. 

"The  institution  has  proven  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  army.  In 
the  present  condition  of  the  country  its  importance  rises  to  supreme 
magnitude." 

About  300  convicts  were  worked,  all  of  them  within  the  walls,  all 
white,  and  a  majority  of  them  measurably  intelligent.  They  were  di- 
rected by  experts  who  acted  as  foremen,  and  who  were  employed  on  my 
recommendation. 

I  was  in  the  city  of  Houston  on  a  certain  occasion  in  the  year  1862. 
The  hotel  was  crowded,  and,  to  make  me  comfortable,  the  landlord  of 
the  Fannin  House  put  me  in  the  room  of  my  friend  General  Houston. 
The  general  was  quite  fond  of  talking  after  retiring,  if  he  had  company. 
After  conversing  for  some  time,  he  said:  "Governor  Frank,  you  know 
I  voted  for  you.  I  traveled  to  Cedar  Bayou  box  to  do  so,  and  I  wish 
to  ask  a  favor  of  you." 

"Proceed,  General."  I  replied. 

He  then  went  on  to  say  that  there  was  a  man  serving  a  term  in  the 
penitentiary  that  should  be  pardoned,  giving  the  name  and  the  reasons 
why  he  should  be  released. 

"General,"  said  I,  "he  is  a  very  important  man  to  us.  He  is  a  trusty, 
and  is  foreman  of  our  shoe-shop,  and  we  can  not  spare  him." 

"Why,  Governor  Frank,  would  you  keep  a  poor  fellow  in  the  pen 
because  you  need  his  services?" 

To  this  I  made  answer:  "General,  he  is  there.  We  are  needing  shoes 
very  much  for  our  soldiers,  and  I  would  dislike  very  much  to  lose  so 
valuable  a  man." 

He  made  some  reply  that  caused  me  to  remark:  "General,  you  were 
Governor  some  time.  If  he  was  such  a  deserving  object  of  favor,  why 
was  it  you  failed  to  exercise  the  pardoning  power?" 

"Governor  Frank,  I  thank  you  for  the  word,  and  I  will  tell  you  the 
reason  of  the  failure.  I  had  the  papers  all  prepared  and  they  were  upon 
my  desk  for  action  upon  them.  I  got  up  quite  early  the  next  morning, 
but  upon  arriving  at  my  office  I  found  little  Eddy  Clark  in  my  chair 
claiming  to  be  Governor.  I  presume  he  must  have  gotten  up  before  day- 
light so  as  to  precede  me  in  possession.  Governor  Frank,  that  is  the 
reason  I  failed  to  sign  the  papers;  all  of  which  facts  I  can  prove  by 
my  Secretary  of  State,  Major  Cave." 


APPENDIX.  073 


I  promised  him  I  would  look  into  the  case,  and  a  few  months  after 
pardoned  the  man  at  his  request. 

In  my  efforts  to  make  the  convicts  useful  to  the  struggling  country, 
I  did  not  overlook  what  was  due  to  them.  In  one  of  my  letters  to  the 
superintendent  I  instructed  him  to  permit  a  Catholic  priest,  who  asked 
permission  to  do  so,  to  administer  to  his  church  members  early  Sunday 
morning  before  the  hour  for  services  by  the  chaplain  of  the  institution. 
I  declined  to  take  the  day  of  rest  from  them  at  the  eager  demand  of 
public  necessity.  The  convicts  were  kept  busily  employed,  but  were  not 
overworked;  were  no  expense  to  the  taxpayers;  became  skilled  in  useful 
trades;  and,  realizing  that  they  were  rendering  service  to  the  country, 
resumed  that  measure  of  self-respect  needed  to  fit  them  for  ultimate 
restoration  to  liberty.  This  experience  convinced  me  fully  of  the  value 
of  this  system,  and  of  the  utter  folly  and  perniciousness  of  any  system 
embodying  the  maintenance  of  convicts  in  idleness. 


INTERESTING  HISTORICAL  DOCUMENT. 

The  following  treaty,  negotiated  upon  the  part  of  the  United  States 
by  John  C.  Calhoun,  and  upon  the  part  of  Texas  by  Isaac  Van  Zandt 
and  J.  Pinckney  Henderson,  was  rejected  by  the  United  States  Senate 
in  April,  1844,  and  has  never  (so  far  as  my  knowledge  extends)  been 
published  in  any  Texas  history  or  book  of  memoirs.  By  perusing  it  the 
reader  will  see  how  much  better  terms  Texas  obtained  under  the  annexa- 
tion resolutions  than  were  proposed  in  the  treaty: 

"A    treaty    of    annexation,    concluded    between    the    United    States    of 

America  and  the  Republic  of  Texas,  at  Washington,  the  12th  day  of 

April,   1844. 

"The  people  of  Texas  having,  at  the  time  of  adopting  their  Constitu- 
tion, expressed,  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote,  their  desire  to  be  in- 
corporated into  the  Union  of  the  United  States,  and  being  still  desirous 
of  the  same  with  equal  unanimity,  in  order  to  provide  more  effectually 
for  their  security  and  prosperity;  and  the  United  States,  actuated 
solely  by  the  desire  to  add  to  their  own  security  and  prosperity,  and  to 
meet  the  wishes  of  the  government  and  people  of  Texas,  having  deter- 
mined to  accomplish,  by  treaty,  objects  so  important  to  their  mutual 
and  permanent  welfare. 

"For  that  purpose,  the  President  of  the  United  States  has  given  full 
powers  to  John  C.  Calhoun,  Secretary  of  State  of  the  said  United 
States,  and  the  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  has  appointed,  with 
like  powers,  Isaac  Van  Zandt  and  J.  Pinckney  Henderson,  citizens  of  the 
said  Republic,  and  the  said  plenipotentiaries,  after  exchanging  their  full 
powers,  have  agreed  on  and  concluded  the  following  articles: 

"ARTICLE  1.  The  Republic  of  Texas,  acting  in  conformity  with  the 
wishes  of  the  people  and  every  department  of  its  Government,  cedes  to 
the  United  States  all  its  territories,  to  be  held  by  them  in  full  property 
43 


674  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


and  sovereignty,  and  to  be  annexed  to  the  said  United  States  as  one  of 
their  Territories,  subject  to  the  same  constitutional  provisions  with  their 
other  Territories.  This  cession  includes  all  public  lots  and  squares,  va- 
cant lands,  mines,  minerals,  salt  lakes  and  springs,  public  edifices,  for- 
tifications, barracks,  ports  and  harbors,  navy  and  navy  yards,  docks, 
magazines,  arms,  armaments,  and  accoutrements,  archives  and  public 
documents,  public  funds,  debts,  taxes  and  dues  unpaid  at  the  time  of  the 
exchange  of  the  ratification  of  this  treaty. 

"ARTICLE  II.  The  citizens  of  Texas  shall  be  incorporated  into  the 
Union  of  the  United  States,  maintained  and  protected  in  the  free  en- 
joyment of  their  liberty  and  property,  and  admitted,  as  soon  as  may 
be  consistent  with  the  principles  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  to  the 
enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  immunities,  of  citizens  of 
the  United  States. 

"ARTICLE  III.  All  titles  and  claims  to  real  estate,  which  are  valid  un- 
der the  laws  of  Texas,  shall  be  held  to  be  so  by  the  United  States:  and 
measures  shall  be  adopted  for  the  speedy  adjudication  of  all  unsettled 
claims  to  land,  and  patents  shall  be  granted  to  those  found  to  be  valid. 

"ARTICLE  IV.  The  public  lands  hereby  ceded  shall  be  subject  to  the 
laws  regulating  the  public  lands  in  the  other  Territories  of  the  United 
States,  as  far  as  they  may  be  applicable:  subject,  however,  to  such  al- 
terations and  changes  as  Congress  may  from  time  to  time  think  proper 
to  make.  It  is  understood  between  the  parties,  that,  if  in  consequence 
of  the  mode  in  which  lands  have  been  surveyed  in  Texas,  or  from  pre- 
vious grants  or  locations,  the  sixteenth  section  cannot  be  applied  to 
the  purpose  of  education,  Congress  shall  make  equal  provision  by  grant 
of  land  elsewhere.  And  it  is  also  further  understood,  that,  hereafter, 
the  books,  papers,  and  documents  of  the  General  Land  Office  of  Texas 
shall  be  deposited  and  kept  at  such  place  in  Texas  as  the  Congress  of 
the  United  States  shall  direct. 

"ARTICLE  V.  The  United  States  assume  and  agree  to  pay  the  public 
debts  and  liabilities  of  Texas,  however  created,  for  which  the  faith  or 
credit  of  her  government  may  be  bound  at  the  time  of  the  exchange  of 
the  ratifications  of  this  treaty;  which  debts  and  liabilities  are  esti- 
mated not  to  exceed,  in  the  whole,  ten  millions  of  dollars,  to  be  ascer- 
tained and  paid  in  the  manner  hereinafter  stated. 

"The  payment  of  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars 
shall  be  made  at  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  within  ninety  days 
after  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  as  follows:  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  to  Frederick  Dawson,  of  Baltimore, 
or  his  executors,  on  the  delivery  of  that  amount  of  ten  per  cent  bonds 
of  Texas:  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  if  so  much  be  required,  in  the 
redemption  of  the  exchequer  bills  which  may  be  in  circulation  at  the 
time  of  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty.  For  the  pay- 
ment of  the  remainder  of  the  debts  and  liabilities  of  Texas,  which,  to- 
gether with  the  amount  already  specified,  shall  not  exceed  ten  millions 
of  dollars,  the  public  lands  herein  ceded,  and  the  nett  revenue  from  the 
same,  are  hereby  pledged. 


APPENDIX.  675 


"ARTICLE  VI.  In  order  to  ascertain  the  full  amount  of  the  debts  and 
liabilities  herein  assumed,  and  the  legality  and  validity  thereof,  four 
commissioners  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  who  shall  meet  at 
Washington,  Texas,  within  the  period  of  six  months  after  the  exchange 
of  the  ratifications  of  this  treaty,  and  may  continue  in  session  not  ex- 
ceeding twelve  months,  unless  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  should 
prolong  the  time.  They  shall  take  an  oath  for  the  faithful  discharge  of 
their  duties,  and  that  they  are  not  directly  or  indirectly  interested  in 
said  claims  at  the  time,  and  will  not  be  during  their  continuance  in 
office;  and  the  said  oath  shall  be  recorded  with  their  proceedings.  In 
case  of  the  death,  sickness,  or  resignation  of  any  of  the  commissioners, 
his  or  their  place  or  places  may  be  supplied  by  the  appointment  as 
aforesaid,  or  by  the  President  of  the  United  States  during  the  recess 
of  the  Senate.  They,  or  a  majority  of  them,  shall  be  authorized,  under 
such  regulations  as  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  may  prescribe, 
to  hear,  examine,  and  decide  on  all  questions  touching  the  legality  and 
validity  of  said  claims,  and  shall,  when  a  claim  is  allowed,  issue  a  cer- 
tificate to  the  claimant,  stating  the  amount,  distinguishing  principal 
from  interest.  The  certificates  so  issued  shall  be  numbered,  and  entry 
made  of  the  number,  the  name  of  the  person  to  whom  issued,  and  the 
amount,  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose.  They  shall  transmit  the 
records  of  their  proceedings  and  the  book  in  which  the  certificates  are 
entered,  with  the  vouchers  and  documents  produced  before  them,  rela- 
tive to  the  claims  allowed  or  rejected,  to  the  Treasury  Department  of 
the  United  States,  to  be  deposited  therein;  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  shall,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the  receipt  of  the  same,  as- 
certain the  aggregate  amount  of  the  debts  and  liabilities  allowed;  and 
if  the  same,  when  added  to  the  amount  to  be  paid  to  Frederick  Dawson, 
and  the  sum  which  may  be  paid  in  the  redemption  of  the  exchequer 
bills,  shall  not  exceed  the  estimated  sum  of  ten  millions  of  dollars,  he 
shall,  on  the  presentation  of  a  certificate  of  the  commissioners,  issue, 
at  the  option  of  the  holder,  a  new  certificate  for  the  amount,  distin- 
guishing principal  from  interest,  and  payable  to  him  or  order,  out  of  the 
net  proceeds  of  the  public  lands  hereby  ceded,  or  stock  of  the  United 
States,  for  the  amount  allowed,  including  principal  and  interest,  and 
bearing  an  interest  of  three  per  cent,  per  annum  from  the  date  thereof; 
which  stock,  in  addition  to  being  made  payable  out  of  the  nett  pro- 
ceeds of  the  public  lands  hereby  ceded,  shall  also  be  receivable  in  pay- 
ment for  the  same.  In  case  the  amount  of  the  debts  and  liabilities  al- 
lowed, with  the  sums  aforesaid  to  be  paid  to  Frederick  Dawson,  and 
which  may  be  paid  in  the  redemption  of  the  exchequer  bills,  shall  ex- 
ceed the  said  sum  of  ten  millions  of  dollars,  the  said  Secretary,  before 
issuing  a  new  certificate,  or  stock,  as  the  case  may  be,  shall  make  in 
each  case  such  proportionable  and  ratable  reduction  on  its  amount  as  to 
reduce  the  aggregate  to  the  said  sum  of  ten  millions  of  dollars;  and  he 
shall  have  power  to  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  necessary  to 
carry  into  effect  the  powers  hereby  vested  in  him. 


670  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


"ARTICLE  VII.  Until  further  provision  shall  be  made,  the  laws  of 
Texas,  as  now  existing,  shall  remain  in  force,  and  all  executive  and 
judicial  officers  of  Texas,  except  the  President,  Vice  President,  and  heads 
of  departments,  shall  retain  their  offices,  with  all  power  and  authority 
appertaining  thereto;  and  the  courts  of  justice  shall  remain  in  all 
respects  as  now  established  and  organized. 

"ARTICLE  VIII.  Immediately  after  the  exchange  of  the  ratifications 
of  this  treaty,  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  ad- 
vice and  consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  a  commissioner,  who  shall 
proceed  to  Texas  and  receive  the  transfer  of  the  territory  thereof,  and 
all  the  archives  and  public  property,  and  other  things  nerein  conveyed, 
in  the  name  of  the  United  States.  He  suau  exercise  all  executive  author- 
ity in  said  Territory  necessary  to  the  proper  execution  of  the  laws,  un- 
til otherwise  provided. 

"ARTICLE  IX.  The  present  treaty  shall  be  ratified  by  the  contracting 
parties,  and  the  ratifications  exchanged  at  the  city  of  Washington,  in 
six  months  from  the  date  hereof,  or  sooner  if  possible. 

"In  witness  whereof,  we,  the  undersigned,  plenipotentiaries  of  the 
United  States  of  America  and  of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  have  signed, 
by  virtue  of  our  powers,  the  present  treaty  of  annexation,  and  have 
hereunto  affixed  our  seals,  respectively. 

"Done  at  Washington,  the  twelfth  day  of  April,  eighteen  hundred  and 
forty-four. 

"J.  C.  CALHOUN.  [SEAL.] 

"ISAAC  VAN  ZANDT.  [SEAL.] 

"J.  PIXCKNEY  HENDERSON.     [SEAL.]" 


INDEX.* 


African  slave  trade,  245,  246,  254. 

Agricultural  and  Mechanical  College,  621. 

Alamo,  fall  of,  31. 

Aliens,  liability  of  to  military  service,  387. 

Annexation,  153,  155,  157,  160,  162,  165,  171,  176,  673  (Appendix). 

Arizona,  Baylor's  conquest  of,  371. 

Arming  the  slaves,  561. 

Arms,  want  of,  362,  492,  530. 

Army,  enter  same  as  lieutenant-colonel,  525;  assigned  to  duty  on  Gen- 
eral Magruder's  staff,  529 ;  first  time  under  fire,  533 ;  placed  in  charge 
of  transportation  of  troops,  535;  assigned  to  Gen.  Tom  Green's  staff, 
535;  depart  for  Louisiana,  535;  overland  journey,  536;  on  General 
Wharton's  staff,  537 ;  furloughed  at  end  of  Louisiana  campaign,  547 ; 
appointed  aide  de  camp  on  President  Davis'  staff,  548 ;  cross  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  proceed  to  Richmond.  549;  letters  to  my  wife,  552;  prices 
of  articles  in  Confederate  money,  552;  my  associates  on  the  staff  of 
the  President,  552 ;  attend  President  on  visit  to  General  Hood's  army, 
553 ;  views  as  to  moving  troops  across  the  Mississippi,  554 ;  disap- 
pearance of  my  servant  Eli,  554 ;  persons  I  met,  556. 

Asiatic  poultry,  my  experience  in  raising,  236. 

Atlanta,  Ga.,  635. 

Audubon,  John  J.,  52. 

Austin.  Stephen  F.,  38. 


Baltimore   (Douglas)   convention,  282. 

Baltimore  ( Breckenridge  and  Lane)  convention,  287. 

Banks,  Gen.  N.  P.,  422,  423,  426,  448,  508,  528,  539,  540,  541. 

Baudin,  French  admiral,  96. 

Baylor,  Gen,  John  R.,  371,  503. 

Bayou  City,  421,  424,  429,  432. 

Bee,  Gen.  Barnard  E.,  412,  421,  540. 

Bell,  Commodore  H.  H.,  437,  454,  457,  458. 

Bell,  Josiah,  458. 

Benjamin,  Judah  P.,  346,  360,  362,  367,  375,  501,  566,  582,  601. 

*  The  chapter  headings  giving  a  general  summary  of  the  contents  of  chapters, 
this  index  is  merely  supplemental  thereto  and  designed  to  enable  the  reader  to 
find  special  matter  —ED. 


678  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Besser,  General,  671. 

Bexar,  capture  of,  30. 

Board  of  Pardons,  appointed  a  member  of,  639. 

Borden,  Gail,  93. 

Boyce,  R.  P.,  60. 

Briscoe,  Andrew,  112.  125. 

Briscoe,  Mrs.  Mary  J.,  48. 

Bryan,  Guy  M.,  212,  263,  275,  277,  286,  289,  299,  389,  390,  392,  393,  395. 

Bryan,  William  Jennings,  641. 

Burnet  and  Sherman  monument,  unveiling  of,  639. 

Business  resumed,  debts  paid-,  beef  packery,  596. 


Cambria,  United  States  steamer,  447. 

Camels,  my  experience  with,  239. 

Campaign  of  January,  1863,  summary  of  results  of,  461. 

Canvass  for  Governor,  321. 

Capitol  Building,  stand  taken  that  resulted  in  the  use  of  Texas  mate- 
rial, 628. 

Capture  of  United  States  vessels  Morning  Light  and  Velocity  off  Sabine 
Pass,  460. 

Cave,  E.  W.,  217,  310,  319,  420. 

Charleston  convention  of  1860,  267. 

Cherokees,  treaty  with.  105. 

Chilton,  Horace.  640. 

Clark,  Gov.  Edward,  248,  310,  322,  324,  330,  396. 

Clerk  House  of  Representatives,  65;  district  court,  101,  120. 

Closing  address,  471. 

Coast  fighting,  317,  319,  383. 

Coast  guards,  347. 

Columbia,  notable  men  met  there,  36. 

Comptroller,  69,   143. 

Conference  of  Governors  at  Marshall,  389;  second  conference,  493;  re- 
port on  resources  of  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  496;  report  on 
currency  and  cotton,  498;  Governor  Reynold's'  resolution  providing 
for  a  committee  of  public  safety,  500;  resolution  endorsing  Gen.  E. 
Kirby  Smith,  501 ;  address  issued  to  the  people,  501. 

Congress,  first  of  Republic,  36. 

Conscript  law,  469. 

Constitutional  Union  Convention  of  1860,  295. 

Consuls,  protest  of,  319. 

(  ooper,  Prof.  Oscar  H.,  621. 

Corpus  Christi,  bombardment  of,  410. 

Creole,  27. 

Crisis  of  1860,  opinions  of  leading  men  in  regard  to,  302. 

Culberson,  Hon.  C.  A.,  639,  640,  641. 

Currency  meeting,  67. 


INDEX.  (579 


Dancy,  John  W.,  41,  209. 

Darden,  Mrs.  Fanny,  60. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  at  Danville,  563;  address  to  the  people,  Greens- 
boro, Charlotte,  news  of  Lincoln's  assassination,  564 ;  rejection  of 
Johnston-Sherman  cartel,  last  cabinet  meeting,  565;  last  council  of 
war,  566;  President's  escort,  567;  Savannah  River,  Washington,  Ga., 
Judge  Reagan,  568;  Sandersville,  Col.  Preston  Johnston,  569;  Col. 
Burton  Harrison,  Mrs.  Davis'  party,  570;  John  Taylor  Wood,  cap- 
ture of  President  and  party,  571;  carried  to  Macon,  573;  letter  to  my 
wife,  574;  Augusta,  Savannah,  575;  dialogue  between  Vice-President 
Alex.  H.  Stephens  and  Gen.  Joe  Wheeler,,  Mr.  Davis  at  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, 576;  Judge  Reagan  at  Fort  Warren,  577;  General  Wheeler,  Col- 
onel Johnston,  and  myself  at  Fort  Delaware,  577  ;  visit  to  Austin, 
607 :  Dallas,  welcomed  by  Mayor  Good,  Mr.  Davis'  speech,  remarks 
by  Colonel  Sexton,  ex-Governor  Throckmorton,  General  Gano  and 
others,  Mr.  Davis'  tribute  to  Lamar  and  views  as  to  the  condition  of 
the  country  and  its  future,  etc.,  607  et  seq. ;  memorial  services  in 
honor  of,  629;  my  speech  on  Mr.  Davis  on  the  occasion  of  presenting 
a  portrait  of  him  to  the  senate — historical  and  descriptive,  650  (Ap- 
pendix ) . 

Davis,  Miss  Winnie,  639. 

Davis,  E.  J.,  314,  528,  587,  605. 

De  Cordova,  P.,  670  (Appendix). 

Democratic  party,  first  movement  for  organization  of  in  Texas,  184; 
organization  of  and  leading  Democrats  who  participated  therein, 
199;  Waco  convention  of  1857,  209;  Austin  convention  of  1858  and 
the  "love  feast"  that  followed,  231;  Houston  convention  of  1859,  243; 
Galveston  convention  of  1860,  260;  Dallas  convention  of  1861,  323; 
Galveston  convention  of  1876,  611;  Austin  convention  of  1878,  614; 
Dallas  convention  of  1880,  621;  Galveston  convention  of  1882,  622; 
convention  of  1884,  623;  Galveston  convention  of  1886,  624;  Dallas 
convention  of  1888,  627;  San  Antonio  convention  of  1890,  627;  Hous- 
ton convention  of  1892,  638;  Galveston  convention  of  1898,  641. 

Distilleries,  demoralizing  effect  of,  468. 

Domestic  manufactures,  478. 

Dowling,  Dick,  459,  503,  507. 

E 

Education,  104,  195. 

Elkhorn  Reunion,  625. 

Europe,  first  trip  to,  Liverpool,  Wales,  London,  597 ;  Paris,  Col.  A. 
Dudley  Mann,  598 ;  Germany,  return  home,  599 ;  Mr.  Davis  and  his 
picture,  603 ;  second  trip,  Sunday  with  Mr.  Davis  in  Paris,  Mac- 
Mahon,  French  assembly,  601 ;  Prince  Polignac,  602 ;  London,  Glas- 
gow, the  Clyde,  Mr.  Davis'  familiarity  with  Scottish  literature,  602; 
return  home,  603. 


G80  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Expansion,  183,  243,  642. 

Expedition:     Bonnell,  84;  Santa  Fe,  104;  Somervell,  140;  Mier,  147. 

Experience,  as  a  granger,  93;  as  a  merchant,  97. 

Extortioners  and  monopolists,  469. 


Factories,  478. 

Family  matters,  630. 

Fannin  massacre,  32. 

Federal  prisoners,  476,  659  (Appendix). 

Finance  of  the  Republic,  105;  retrenchment,  exchequer  bills,  144:  scal- 
ing the  public  debt,  194. 

Fisher,  Mrs.  Rebecca  J.,  83,  645   (Appendix). 

Fort  Delaware,  my  experience  as  a  political  prisoner,  578 ;  my  discharge, 
588;  visit  to  Washington  and  meeting  with  Judge  Reagan,  Judge  Ter- 
rell, and  others,  589;  call  on  Secretary  Stanton,  590;  interview  with 
President  Johnson,  591 ;  return  and  welcome  home,  591. 

Fortress  Monroe  conference,  558. 

French  intervention  in  behalf  of  Confederacy,  510,  511,  512,  514,  533. 

Frontier  Protection,  229,  255,  259,  483. 

Frontier  regiment  and  defense,  357,  469,  475,  483. 


•Galveston,  84,  97,  319,  345,  346,  347,  349,  385,  386,  387,  388,  416,  422; 

battle  of,  434,  440;   Gen.   N.  P.   Banks'   report,  448,  454,  458,  486; 

mayoralty  race  of  1875,  606. 
Gano,  Gen.  R.  M.,  324,  341,  358,  610. 
Gilleland,  Wm.  N.,  645   (Appendix). 
Gould,  R.  S.,  542. 
Governor,   inaugurated  as,   329;   epitome  of  my  work  as,   525;    review 

of  my  administration  by  the  Henderson  Times,  472. 
Gray,  P.  W.,  440. 

Green,  Gen.  Tom,  398,  399,  437,  445,  532,  530. 
Green,  T.  J.,  91,  147,  151. 


Hamburg,    IS. 

Hamilton,  A.  J.,  245,  314,  449,  529,  587,  005. 

Hampton  Roads  conference,  558. 

Hancock,  John,  587,  022. 

Harby,  Captain.  443. 

Hardeman,  W.  P.,  542. 

Hatteras,  United  States  steamer,  sinking  of  by  the  Alabama,  456. 

Hobert,  P.  O.,  344,  345,  340,  348,  375,  390,  410. 

Hemphill.  John,  146,  180,  224,  225,  307,  361,  378. 


INDEX.  681 


Henderson,  J.  P.,  179.  187,  189,  224. 

Hobby,  A.  M.,  645   (Appendix). 

Hogg,  J.  S.,  627,  638. 

Holmes,  Gen..  426. 

Houston,  city  of,  45,  47,  48,  50. 

Houston,  Sam,  73,  91,  141,  151,   179,  205,  213,  259,  297,  381,  491,  672 

(Appendix). 
Howe,   Captain,   532. 
Hubbarjl,  R.  B.,  605,  612,  613,  641. 
Hunter,  R.  M.  T.,  558,  561. 


Immigrant  who  had  seen  enough  of  Texas,  55. 
Ireland,  John,  622,  623. 


Johnston,  Gen.  A.  S.,  37,  39,  71,  105,  182,  325,  375,  607. 
Jones,  Anson,  67,  157,  162,  163,  177,  229. 


Know- Nothing  party,   197,  204. 


La  Fayette,  5. 

Lamar,  M.  B.,  43,  79,  92,  97,  105,  143,  144,  182,  607. 

Lavaca,  bombardment  of,  413. 

Lea,  A.  M.,  437,  461. 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E.,  561. 

Legislature:  Ninth,  329,  341;  extra  session  of,  463,  480:  passage  of 
resolution  to  the  effect  that  Texas  would  pay  her  part  of  the  Con- 
federate debt  in  the  event  of  withdrawal  from  the  Confederacy,  481; 
resolution  of  thanks  to  Magruder  for  the  victory  at  Galveston,  482 : 
Tenth,  my  message  to,  515. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  300,  465. 

Long,  Mrs.  Jane,  43,  78. 

Looscan,  Mrs.  Adele  B.,  241. 

Loughery,  R.  W.,  604. 

Lubbock,  Henry  S.,  421,  436,  441,  507,  586. 

Lubbock,  John  B..  328. 

Lubbock,  Thomas  S..  13,  26,  28,  29,  146,  314,  316,.  324,  327,  377,  645 
(Appendix). 


LUBBOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Magruder,  Gen.  J.  B.,  424,  425,  427,  434,  450,  451,  459,  485,  487,  535, 

593. 

Majors,  General,  541. 
Manassas   (first  battle),  Texans  at,  315. 
Marriage,  23,  630. 
Mason  and  Slidell,  374. 
Masonry,  65. 

Matagorda  Bay,  530,  533. 
Maximilian,  593. 
Mexican  raid,  72,  145. 
Mexican  war,  181. 
Milam  Guards,  84,  90. 
Milner,  R.  T.,  667  (Appendix). 
Military  Board,  362,  368,  667   (Appendix). 
Militia,  359.  478. 

Mississippi  River,  488,  489,  490,  544. 
Moody,  W.  L.,  584,  613. 
Monterey,  battle  of,  Texans  in,  182. 

Murrah,  Pendleton,  322,  324,  495,  515,  520,  534,  587,  593. 
My  farewell  address  and  entrance  into  the  army,  520. 

Me 

McCulloch,  Ben.,  536,  625. 
McCulloch,  Henry  E.,  357,  503,  627. 
McLeod,  Hugh,  233,  380. 

N 

Negro  soldiers,  Confederate  policy  toward,  466. 
New  Orleans,  life  in,  20. 
Newspapers  in  Texas  in  1849,  193. 
Nullification,  14. 


Ochiltree,  Thos.  P.,  209,  212,  256,  260,  288,  289,  397,  405,  406,  551. 
Omaha  Exposition,  640. 


Parsons'  brigade  reunion,  625. 

Pease,  E.  M.,  68,  195,  225,  314. 

Pendloton,  Geo.  C.,  667    (Appendix). 

Penitentiary  Board,  appointed  member  of,  638. 

Penitentiary,  manufacture  of  goods  at  in  1861-2-3,  671   (Appendix). 

Personal  difficulty,  75. 


INDEX.  r,s:; 


Pioneers,  sketches  of,  107. 

Poets'  Tribune,  645  (Appendix). 

Politics  in  1840-1,  98. 

Political  campaign,  of  1856   (national),  205;  of   1857    (State),  209;  of 

1859   (State),  243;  of  1860  (national),  298. 
Presidential  candidates,  of  1838,  80;  of  1841,  102;  of  1844,  152. 
Prisoners,  Mier,  decimation  of,  148;  Perote,  153. 
Proclamation  relative  to  storage  of  cotton,  347. 
Prohibition  campaign  of  1887,  624. 


Railroad  Commission,  627. 

Reagan,  John  H.,  212,  218.  220,  245,  299,  311,  328,  362,  551,  554,  565, 

568,  577,  589. 

Reconstruction,  604,  605,  606. 
Rector,  Governor  of  Arkansas,  address  of  relative  to  withdrawal  from 

the  Confederacy,  388,  389,  393. 

Red  River  campaign,  534,  537,  539,  540,  541,  542,  543;  results  of,  544. 
Reiley,  James,  407,  428. 
Religious  denominations,  83. 
Renshaw,  Commodore,  419,  437,  446. 
Retaliation,  371,  466,  481. 
Reverses,  375. 

Richmond  convention  of  June  11,  1860,  281. 
Richmond,  Va.,  326,  557,  563. 
Roberts,  O.  M.,  305,  382,  615,  620. 
Robertson,  J.  C.,  308. 
Robertson,   Sawnie,   623. 
Robinson,  J.  W.,  145,  153. 
Ross,  L.   S.,  624. 
Royal  Yacht,  345,   385. 
Runnels,  Hardin  R.,  210,  223,  224,  225. 
Rusk,  T.  J.,  67,  81.  152,  171,  179. 

8 

Sabine  Pass,  459 ;  battle  of,  505 ;  Federal  report  of  battle,  505,  506,  508. 

Sale  of  Santa  Fe  territory,  192. 

Santa  Anna,  31,  32. 

San  Jacinto,  33,  57,  60. 

Sayers,  J.  D.,  400,  611,  614,  620,  621,  641,  642. 

Scurry,  W.  R.,  182,  437,  438. 

Secession,  305,  308,  309,  312. 

Semmes,  Raphael,  455,  562. 

Sibley,  General,  396. 


684  LUB BOCK'S  MEMOIRS. 


Sibley's  expedition,  396;  Valverde,  398;  occupation  of  Santa  Fe,  Glor- 

ieta,  401;  Peralto,  403;  Bethel  Coopwood,  guide,  crossing  the  Jornada, 

404,  405,  406. 

Smith,  Ashbel,  163,  164,  200,  (, j, v.  ^  *  / 1  ^" 
Smith,  E.  Kirby,  492,  493,  501,  534. 
Smith,  Leon,  317,  432,  436,  439,  440,  454,  505,  532. 
South  Carolina,  visit  to  after  the  close  of  my  term  as  State  treasurer, 

631. 

Star  of  the  West,  318. 
State  tax  and  Confederate  money,  478. 
State  Treasurer,  nominated  for,  615;  induction  into  office  as,  617;  policy 

as,  618;  notice  from  Texas  Review,  619;  end  of  term  of  service  as,  628. 
Stephens,  Alexander  H.,  558,  561,  575,  576,  577. 
Stockraising,  122,  127,  139. 
Supreme   Court,    180. 


Taylor,  Gen.  Dick,  537,  538,  541,  543,  544,  553. 

Taylor,  M.  D.  K.,  256,  611,  614. 

Terrell,  A.  W.,  345,  593. 

Terry,  Capt.  Frank,  315,  316,  324,  326. 

Terry  Rangers,  325. 

Texas,  first  visit  to,  29;  removal  to,'  42;  troops,  355;  quota  of  soldiers 
in  the  Confederate  army,  471;  support  of  families  of  soldiers,  477;  ad- 
ditional call  for  soldiers,  487. 

Texas  revolution,  28. 

Turner,  E.  P.,  425,  431. 

Twin  Sisters  (cannon  used  at  San  Jacinto),  372. 


"Uncle  Ben,"  459,  505. 
Unionists,  314. 
United  States  bonds,  360. 
University  of  Texas.  228.  622. 


Vance,  Governor  of  South  Carolina,  as  to  duty  of  ex-Confederate  sol- 
diers at  the  close  of  the  war,  593. 
Van  Zandt  County  seat  trouble,  612. 
Veto  message,  351. 
Visit  to  Charleston,  S.  C.,  25. 


INDEX.  685 


W 

Walker,  R.  J.,  52,  227. 
Walton,  W.  M.,  336,  361. 
War  legislation,  369. 
Washburn,  C.  C.,  529. 
Washington-on-the-Brazos,  148. 
Watkins,  O.  M..  458. 
Waul,  T.  N.,  209,  245,  261,  361,  374. 
West,  C.  S.,  336,  390,  623. 

Wharton,  Gen.  John  A.,  40,  537,  539,  543,  546. 
Wharton,  W.  H.,  40. 
Wheeler,  Gen.  Joe,  575,  576,  577. 
Whig  convention  at  Tyler,  194. 
Wigfall,  L.  T..  209.  227..  ?30,  ?5fi,  2.17.  361.  362. 
Winkler,  Mrs.,  557. 

Winter  of  1863-4,  my  narrow  escape  from  being  frozen  to  death,  four- 
teen soldiers  perish,  532. 
Wood,  Geo.  T..  190. 
Wortham,  W.  B.,  620.  628. 


Zavala,  Lorenzo  de,  44. 


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